The Word "Retard" Essay

In Nancy Mairs’ article for The New York Times, “Disability”, published in 1987, she expresses her distaste with the media's representation of handicapped people. Mairs, who struggled with multiple sclerosis herself, clearly and sharply conveys this disgust by stating, “I’m not, for instance, Ms. MS, a walking, talking embodiment of a chronic incurable degenerative disease.” (Mairs 13), and that she is actually, “the advertisers’ dream: Ms. Great American Consumer. And yet the advertisers, who determine nowadays who will get represented publicly and who will not, deny the existence of me and my kind absolutely”(Mairs 14). Mairs is greatly upset that disabled people are defined by their disabilities and, therefore, are underrepresented in public media. This might lead to one asking themselves, but why are they? And the answer, according to Mairs, is quite simple, “To depict disabled people in the ordinary activities of daily life is to admit that there is something ordinary about disability itself, that it may enter anybody’s life”(Mairs 14). Mairs concludes by pointing out how this effacement could have dangerous consequences for both disabled people and, as she called everyone else, TAPs (Temporarily Abled Persons) alike. Treating disabilities as an abnormal characteristic (as opposed to viewing them “as a normal characteristic, one that complicates but does not ruin human existence” (Mairs 15)) can cause one of these repercussions, as it makes the

The old idiom, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” has been used for decades, and although a good sentiment, can be disproven by any person with an basic understanding of their feelings. The power of the words one hears can greatly affect their self esteem and confidence. The fact that words hurt is an issue everyone faces, but some words hold too much power, power that can be used in not so ideal ways. Slurs, or words that are used to oppress minority groups, are used too casually in the modern world, with grave consequences on the minorities they are used against. The word faggot, a term used to describe gay men, has become popular in modern America between school boys as a way to either mock their peers or intentionally hurt an actual queer person. This word in particular moves farther away from offensive and can be categorized as oppressive due to its both psychological and social ramifications. The use of the word faggot is an act of oppression when one looks at both the social and psychological effects the word has on both the user and the recipient of the slur.

Fairman has a convincing argument that even if the word retard was gone from everyday use as well as clinical use, the new term for the mentally retarded would also soon be offensive and develop the same negative connotation. as the word retard does now. Fairman first talks about the taboo nature of words and talks about his book on the subject which establishes credibility on the subject. Fairman then explains how mental disabilities are taboo in America with a history that isolated those with them and those with mental disabilities being a source of shame for family members. The reader would not be making a large assumption calling the word retard a taboo word because of the example the author gives where a well known takes great offense from someone calling others retards. The whole point is that words that represent a taboo in culture is that “Offence-both given and taken-is inevitable” (Fairman 3). The fact that the author goes to the reason why the word is offensive and then explain that historical terms for the mentally disabled also became taboo and offensive is very convincing to the reader that the actual word retard is not the

She identifies as “a cripple”, saying “I choose this word to name me.” She states that she recognizes the uncomfortable feeling it inflicts on all people, proposing that “perhaps I want them to wince.” These statements criticize the stigma around disabilities, and their blunt tone emphasizes the benefits of a “straightforward and precise” nature to labels. In this passage from paragraphs two to four, Mairs explains the true meaning of the words (i.e. “disabled”, “handicapped”, and “differently abled”) abled and disabled people use to identify those with disabilities. She continues to discuss these terms and includes her blunt opinion – it is typically against the use of these labels for their lack of “accuracy with which [they] describe [her] condition.” This shows the abled audience why the stigma surrounding disabilities should be removed because they would not understand her perspective as a disabled person without that explanation. On the other hand, her blunt tone and language is used to convince disabled readers to agree with her message: “I refuse to pretend that the only difference between [abled people] and [disabled people] are the various ordinary ones that distinguish any one person from another.” Both of the effects of Mairs’s blunt tone work to achieve her goal of acceptance of disabled people, but they differ in order to be most effective for their targeted

In “On Being a Cripple,”  Nancy Mairs describes her life as a “cripple,” being treated different for her multiple sclerosis. She describes how society views her as handicapped or disabled both which are terms that the author dislikes.  Her viewpoint makes readers question their own beliefs on how the terms handicapped, disabled, or cripple influences a person to think differently about each term and its meaning. One of the reasons I chose this essay was because the author shows how different terms could affect the way society thinks about a person. Mairs believes that society often judge others based on their physical appearance and use the terms handicapped, disabled, or cripple to label. She argues that the outcome of this is creates an idea where being a cripple, or being disabled is considered a taboo where you're expected to be treated differently. Mairs claims that society i

Many people may say one is a retard without knowing the truth behind the actual word. Intellectual Disability, also known as Mental Retardation, is a very serious psychological disorder that few are faced with for life. Intellectual Disability is characterized by a below-average level of intelligence (a mental ability) that lacks skills necessary for daily living. An IQ is the standard way to measure the level of intelligence one may have. Roughly 95% of humans have the IQ between 70 and 130. (Meyers and DeWall, 2014). The other five percent are either absolute genius or intellectually disabled. Being intellectually disabled can be caused in many ways

My first subject is Forrest Gump, in analyzing Forrest we understand how he correlates toward the psychoanalytic theory (p. 35-38). Since Forrest has an IQ of 75, which is reflected as intellectually disabled or formerly called mental retarded. Forrest is incapable of preserving the necessary abilities that require language, comprehension, mathematics, and social communication. Forrest has overcome the actuality that he’s distinguished and classified as intellectually disabled, with the encouragement of his mother, Forrest has developed a sense of self (p. 335-336 & 339-340).

Living life to its fullest capacity was a very important goal for Nancy Mairs. In “On Being Crippled” she examines depression, direction, choice, and family as she went through her battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Not only did she examine her own battle with MS, but she analyses the views that society has on anyone with a debilitating or handicapping disease. For this reason, it is clear that Mairs is speaking to society. She outcasts herself from the rest of society by her comfort with the word “cripple” towards herself. Mairs is able to pull this essay off because she herself has MS and therefore can provide valid evidence on her experiences and those similar to hers.

In the essay, Nancy Mairs presents her unorthodox way of viewing herself and others that live with a disability. She discusses the reasons for referring to herself, a girl born with Multiple Sclerosis, as a cripple, even though the rest of society may not. Throughout the essay, Mairs uses rhetorical devices such as diction and tone to clearly get her beliefs across. Nancy Mairs’, frank and vehement tone, shows her welcoming of the word cripple and its accuracy in defining her in the essay, “I Am A Cripple.” Nancy Mairs, throughout the essay, uses diction in the form of euphemisms and the straightforwardness of her vocabulary.

“As his vacant eyes moved across the crowd of amused onlookers, he slowly mirrored their smiles and finally broke into an uncertain grin at the joke which he obviously did not understand. I felt sick inside as I looked at his dull, vacuous smile, the wide, bright eyes of a child, uncertain but eager to please. They were laughing at him because he was mentally retarded. And I had been laughing at him too. Suddenly, I was furious at myself and all those who were smirking at him. I jumped up and shouted, "Shut up! Leave him alone! It's not his fault he can't understand! He can't help what he is! But for God's sake ... he's still a human being!" The room grew silent. I cursed myself for losing control and creating a scene. I tried not to look at the boy as I paid my check and walked out without touching my food. I felt ashamed for both of us. How strange it is that people of honest feelings and sensibility, who ­ would not take advantage of a man born without arms or legs or eyes-how such people think nothing of abusing a man born with low intelligence” (Keyes 185). It is beyond cruel to make fun of someone for their disability, especially when they are not able to understand what is going on. Having mental health issues is nothing to

In the chapter “Tiny Tims, Supercrips, and the End of Pity” of No Pity, Shapiro focuses on the stereotypes disabled people endure throughout their lifetime, a result of the systematic oppression of disabled and neurodivergent people. Similarly to race, gender, and sexual orientation, disabilities are a social construction (Wendell, 2) created by able-bodied, neurotypical people to uphold power. A goal of the Navigating Boston course is to acknowledge that disabilities exist in this society, and to recognize the needs of the disabled.

Plenty of people suffer because of the word “retarded”, it is extremely offensive and hurtful that it causes individuals to feel different and plays a major role in segregation. The word “retarded” directly insults and abuses people who have a mental illness. The word is always used negatively whether it is used to discriminate or to make fun of someone. The word can also be used in verbal bullying. There is no other purpose for the word “retarded” besides being used to hurt people; the word is only used offensively to hurt people that is why it should not be used.

In the media today, people with disabilities are perceived as tragic heroes or as medical miracles. They are rarely seen for their intelligence or for their accomplishments excluding their overcoming disability hardships. The textbook, Everything’s an Argument, contains an excerpt from Charles A. Riley II 's book “Disability and the Media: Prescriptions for Change.” Riley, a journalism professor at New York’s Baruch College, uses appeal to ethos, logos, and pathos to persuade his audience that their methods of portraying disabled people are in dire need of change.

Disability has appeared frequently in recent films (Byrd & Elliot, 1988), a reflection of society’s interest in the subject. These films often misrepresent disability using stereotypes. These stereotypes reinforce negative and incorrect social perceptions of, and attitudes towards,

This week’s discussion dealt with Individuals and Disabilities. Over the years, people who have a “disability" have been subjected to prejudice and more. And the first way to diminish someone is through language, by using words or labels to identify a person as "less-than," as "the others—not like us," and so forth. Once a person has been identified this way, it makes