Disabled Youth

Barron, Karin (1997). “The Bumpy Road to Womanhood.” Disability & Society 12 (2): 223-239

Priestley, Mark (2003). Disability: A Life Course Approach. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press.

Mark Priestley’s chapter 4 explores disability and youth. Mark Priestley looks at the theoretical perspectives in youth studies, specifically the structural and cultural explanations (88). In a teenager’s life, peer groups are a necessity, however those young adults that have disabilities may find physical and social barriers (91).

Karin Barron’s article, The Bumpy Road to Womanhood, explores young women who have a physical disability between the ages of 17-22. It explains how gender roles, striving for autonomy, obstacles to womanhood, and the dream of womanhood all affect the mental capability of the young adult (224-237).

Both articles had many similarities including the topic of normalcy. On page 95 of Mark Priestley’s chapter it states, “The normalization of youthful bodily ideals in terms of functional and sexual desirability, contributes directly to the construction of disability” (95). Young adults these days grow up in a social world that is characterized by how one person is perceived by the public eye. It is rather unfortunate that this has to happen, yet those young individuals that do have a disability may not fit into this social world and not be accepted by their surrounding peers. On page 231 of Karin Barron’s article, it states, “The ideal of normality is thus something the interviewees are subjected to. It is considered ‘normal’ and thus of value being in the company of non-disabled peers” (231). Essentially, young adults are very critical of their appearance and succumb to peer pressure. If a person was to have a noticeable disability, it would be extremely tough for other peers to accept this. Unfortunately, not all young adults have an open mind, nor do they want to understand. I personally believe that this starts to phase out when the young adult moves into post secondary education. The two articles look at two different points of normalcy. Priestley’s chapter looks at normalization in respect to bodily appearance while Barron’s article looks at normalization in respect to having a relationship. I believe that these two factors go hand in hand. If the young disabled adult does not have a “normal” appearance than it will be difficult for that individual to find a relationship with other peers.

Another similarity between the two articles was the topic of idealization. In Chapter 4, Priestley states that it is important to look at the “detail at the management of youth transitions” (106). In Barron’s article it describes the many transitions that a young woman goes through. Barron states that the media plays a big role on the idealization of people who have a disability. She states, on page 231 that the media portrays a young wheelchair bound woman as someone who has physical disability. The media does not support the fact that this young woman has the same mental and possibly physical status as an able bodied person. Unfortunately this means that society then views this individual as frail. People fail to realize that some people who have a disability still maintain active lives within the community. Many disabled people have careers and function well within society. Another words, they are just like anyone else.

The readings have a contradicting topic on sexuality. Mark Priestley states this on page 97, “Not only have disabled people been constructed as less attractive or desirable, their potential for expressions of sexuality has been both denied and heavily regulated” (97). Karin Barron states that the interviewees did say that they were asked questions about their identity as asexual (228). Through the interview, women brought up that even though they have a disability they were sexual human beings. I wonder if Priestley was uninformed about this topic. I am sure that there are some individuals who can not bear the idea of sexual activity, however, there are many young females that recognize that sexual desire and acquire it. Again, I believe that this all has something to do with the social circle that the individual has grown up in. If peers of a disabled person are willing to adjust and accept the disabled person for who they are, then that individual will have no problem fitting in. I believe that we as a society need to grow up a little, and try to understand the different ways that an individual can live.

What is the difference between a person with a disability and a person without? Some would say a whole lot. A person’s disabilities even if visible shouldn’t be what they are. A person with a disability is an individual with thoughts and feelings and should be treated as such.