[nabs-l] Blindness and Identity

[Jedi]

Since we are all intersections of identity in one way or another, maybe 
the real mystery here is why we each choose certain parts of ourselves 
to identify with more than others.

Alex, I would say that for me, blindness is an identity that formed as 
a result of my being aware of social status differences between the 
blind and sighted, and that identity was merged with how the NFB 
defines blindness. Then from observing people in the NFB, I learned to 
identify my blind self with strength, vigor, energy, history, and the 
ability to do pretty well anything. Isn't that interesting? I think I'm 
starting to develop a feminine identity that's based on the same 
principles as a way of standing up in a world that is, as you've 
pointing out, still mostly male-oriented.

Respectfully,
Jedi

Original message:
> Hi list; this is an Interesting discussion on blindness and Identity.
> I definitely agree that blindness is not part of my identity, but
> rather it is a physical characteristic which by choice, I identify
> with. As an example, I will say that for most of my life, the notion
> of there being a blind “community” was non-existent, as most of my
> peers were and still are sighted, I did not attend any specialized
> schools, and whenever the issue of my lacking 20/20 vision came up, it
> was always a negative and not a positive. As a result, I saw myself as
> a guy who could just about do most things, except read what was on the
> blackboard at school.

> As I got older and my vision decreased, I began to see myself as just
> less of a competent person, and because socially, I had no experiences
> with blindness and I had never chosen to self identify as blind, I was
> simply lacking ability as opposed to being someone who could have
> alternative ways of being able. In other words, my lack of identifying
> with that physical characteristic called blindness, lead me to believe
> that I wasn’t blind, just not capable of doing certain things.

> As I began to use a cane, and saw certain benefits of its usage, and I
> began to associate with people who were capable, and shared that same
> characteristic of blindness, I started to identify with that physical
> trait. However, I do not have an identity as a blind person, in the
> way that many sighted people might see me as having. I am not a blind
> creature, just like every other blind creature. As a note, it is this
> label, this identity and social perception which most of us are
> working to change in society. So, this is definitely a social
> construct.

> I see myself as Male, Dominican, 29, working toward such degree, with
> interest in this that and the other…. Blindness is not first on my
> list, unless I’m thinking about advocacy, or NFB, or how it creeps me
> out when I am rushing on the Subway, and someone asks me if I need
> help going up or down stairs.

> Also, I’ve noted that my Maleness is the first characteristic which I
> wrote down. As males, we are often reminding each other of
> masculinity, what it is to be a man, doing manly things and such. This
> social pressure on our maleness is perhaps what we guys are projecting
> here when we are attributing the female identity as one consumed by
> child birth, as that is the one characteristic which in our manly
> minds, Marks the clearest difference between our sexes. I would say
> that in this society, although females are reaching equal status as
> males, we are still very male oriented. It would make sense then, that
> in being male, one would need to identify more with the trait and
> therefore assume that women have a similar need to do so with being
> female. I would say that Jedi has a solid argument   by stating that
> she does not identify with the ability to give birth or will identify
> with it until she, if she chooses to, gives birth or starts thinking
> about doing so.

> In the United States, I see myself as male and Dominican, but when I
> am in the Dominican Republic, I simply see myself as male.

> Thanks for reading,
> Alex

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