The hardest part of raising awareness about right hand privilege is not getting people's attention.
The
hardest part of raising awareness is not sounding like a crank. It
would be easy to mistake this as a claim of "my pain is greater than
yours," which others disingenuously try to do.
The issue here is not left handed adults. We can take care of ourselves.
The issue is left handed children, people who can't take care of nor defend themselves.
Showing posts with label discrimination. Show all posts
Showing posts with label discrimination. Show all posts
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
Saturday, 28 December 2013
Child annoyances: Teachers
Left handed children in schools have many problems in getting an
education, and being left handed is not one of them. There are many
objects in schools which make life difficult - pens, books, desks,
rulers, scissors, etc. But the single greatest source of frustration
for children is the adult in the class, the educated person who is
supposed to know better.
The teacher.
The teacher.
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
Children suffer the most from right handed privilege
Left handed children
suffer the most because right handed privilege is unlike any other form of privilege.
When people in other minorities face privilege (adults or children), they can ask for help, band together and take action, or at the least, communicate with each other and find support:
For left handed people, it's a different matter.
Left handed adults have very few problems with it. Aside from possible hiring discrimination (e.g. mechanical devices and machines designed only to be operated with the right hand), it's a non-issue. Adults have the experience, education and knowledge to adapt, adjust or take legal action.
Left handed children, on the other hand, have massive problems. Women, ethnic minorities or LGBTQ people who can obtain support from family, teachers and community. But for left handed children, their own families, teachers and community are most often the source of discrimination and abuse. The people who should be their support system are most often the source of the problem, and left handed children have no one they can ask for help.
Without that sense of community, left handed children lack a support structure, and are isolated. And because they are young, they lack the experience, knowledge and ability to help themselves. It really is the same way gay people felt decades ago, as if they're the only one in the world, and everyone is telling them they're wrong.
Often the only left handed person in their families. If the parents are biased against left handedness because of religion or culture, they will try to force the child to switch hands.
In schools, teachers are almost all left handed and fail to teach left handed children properly. "Corporal punishment" and verbal abuse still go on, even where it's illegal. I've seen it first hand, teaching in various Asian countries.
Communities and cultures often perpetuate ignorant and outdated views that left handedness is "evil", "dirty", "stupid" or "awkward", none of which is true.
Parents: If your child is left handed, educate yourself instead of taking it out on your child. Forcing a child to change hands is a form of child abuse. Read books. Become informed and understand that left handedness is as natural as one's gender.
Teachers: Respect the fact that left handedness is natural and does not need to be "changed", that abuse is not acceptable. Your personal views have no place in the classroom. You have an obligation to treat that child with respect, and an obligation to do your job and teach that child. Neglect and passive-aggressive behaviour are as much abuse as violence or insults.
Communities: "Culture" is a choice. Ignorance is a choice. Left handedness is natural.
Religions: Keep your views to yourself. Left handedness is not "evil".
When people in other minorities face privilege (adults or children), they can ask for help, band together and take action, or at the least, communicate with each other and find support:
- Women who are harassed or face a glass ceiling in the workplace
- Those who endure racism
- LGBTQ people and homophobia
For left handed people, it's a different matter.
Left handed adults have very few problems with it. Aside from possible hiring discrimination (e.g. mechanical devices and machines designed only to be operated with the right hand), it's a non-issue. Adults have the experience, education and knowledge to adapt, adjust or take legal action.
Left handed children, on the other hand, have massive problems. Women, ethnic minorities or LGBTQ people who can obtain support from family, teachers and community. But for left handed children, their own families, teachers and community are most often the source of discrimination and abuse. The people who should be their support system are most often the source of the problem, and left handed children have no one they can ask for help.
Without that sense of community, left handed children lack a support structure, and are isolated. And because they are young, they lack the experience, knowledge and ability to help themselves. It really is the same way gay people felt decades ago, as if they're the only one in the world, and everyone is telling them they're wrong.
Often the only left handed person in their families. If the parents are biased against left handedness because of religion or culture, they will try to force the child to switch hands.
In schools, teachers are almost all left handed and fail to teach left handed children properly. "Corporal punishment" and verbal abuse still go on, even where it's illegal. I've seen it first hand, teaching in various Asian countries.
Communities and cultures often perpetuate ignorant and outdated views that left handedness is "evil", "dirty", "stupid" or "awkward", none of which is true.
Parents: If your child is left handed, educate yourself instead of taking it out on your child. Forcing a child to change hands is a form of child abuse. Read books. Become informed and understand that left handedness is as natural as one's gender.
Teachers: Respect the fact that left handedness is natural and does not need to be "changed", that abuse is not acceptable. Your personal views have no place in the classroom. You have an obligation to treat that child with respect, and an obligation to do your job and teach that child. Neglect and passive-aggressive behaviour are as much abuse as violence or insults.
Communities: "Culture" is a choice. Ignorance is a choice. Left handedness is natural.
Religions: Keep your views to yourself. Left handedness is not "evil".
Right hand privilege is wrong
Right hand privilege is wrong.
What does that mean? It means right handed people are unaware of their unearned privilege. It means they should be aware that there are left handed people, and that societal norms, design of objects and everyday behaviours should not be done solely for the benefit of right handed people.
In starting this blog, I am not claiming that the right handed privilege is comparable to racism, sexism or other forms of discrimination. I'm not even calling it organized discrimination. And this is definitely not intended to be confrontational. What I am calling it, however, is a lack of consideration the one in seven people who are left handed, and I am calling for right handed people to think about it.
For adults, right handed privilege is generally a minor issue, except perhaps where dangerous machinery is involved and left handed people are forced to used things with the wrong hand instead of the left hand. The biggest annoyances I have are ones I can work around.
For children, though, right handed privilege is a major issue. Materials in classrooms - books, desks, various objects - are designed for right handed people. But even if objects weren't a consideration, the attitude of teachers, schools, parents and societies are. Children are still forced and harassed to switch hands against their nature, a topic I will go into in other posts.
What does that mean? It means right handed people are unaware of their unearned privilege. It means they should be aware that there are left handed people, and that societal norms, design of objects and everyday behaviours should not be done solely for the benefit of right handed people.
In starting this blog, I am not claiming that the right handed privilege is comparable to racism, sexism or other forms of discrimination. I'm not even calling it organized discrimination. And this is definitely not intended to be confrontational. What I am calling it, however, is a lack of consideration the one in seven people who are left handed, and I am calling for right handed people to think about it.
For adults, right handed privilege is generally a minor issue, except perhaps where dangerous machinery is involved and left handed people are forced to used things with the wrong hand instead of the left hand. The biggest annoyances I have are ones I can work around.
For children, though, right handed privilege is a major issue. Materials in classrooms - books, desks, various objects - are designed for right handed people. But even if objects weren't a consideration, the attitude of teachers, schools, parents and societies are. Children are still forced and harassed to switch hands against their nature, a topic I will go into in other posts.
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