Section 3 :: Deviant Bodies (Part II: Feb 14, 16 and 21)

For the last three days of this section, we are going to be discussing other types of deviant bodies. We are going to discuss our obsession with size, and the beliefs we have about overweight bodies. Then, we are going to discuss bodies that are seen as disabled, and the limits of our beliefs about what constitutes "ability" and "disability."

As with all of the groups we discuss this semester, members of the fat and disability community are both challenging us to think about how we define "normal." In our images of ideal men and women, we have very specific ideals for what we think bodies should look like, and how they should function. If you look around, you will see that almost all aspects of our culture is based on an assumption that we meet the ideal, or pretty close. Look at the classrooms on campus--do the chairs, desks and rows make assumptions about your body size and shape? What are they assuming about your physical abilities? Next time you go to a store, look--would you be able to get into the store, if you were in a wheelchair? Does the layout of the store make assumptions about your body, in size and ability? If they sell clothing, do they sell clothes that would fit any type of body, based on size or ability?

Both weight and ability are a master status, so when you are not the ideal size (which has nothing to do with averages, or reality), or have a visible disability (which has nothing to do with your actual capacity), you are seen first and foremost by that status. Your actions and words get put through the filter of assumptions we have about fat and disabled bodies. For example, in both communities, there is a perception that when you are fat or disabled, you are asexual. Mainstream society has a hard time believing you can be attractive, attracted and sexual. You are considered deviant if you want to have sex with someone fat or disabled. Why? What are the underlying assumptions and social constructions? How does this relate to our ideas of "ideal women" and "ideal men"?





On February 14, we will talk about fat bodies (I use the term "fat" in reference to the fat acceptance movement). We will ask where our beliefs about people who are fat come from, what that means for the lives of those who receive the "fat" label, and the consequences of the stigma that comes with that label.

Required:

• Read The Stigma of Obesity by Goode, in your text.
• Read Three Strikes Against Curvy Women by Lisa Brody, on the consequences of obesity for women in the workforce.
• Read In Defense of Fat by Tasha Fierce on the Clutch Magazine blog. Fierce also has a blog called Sex and the Fat Girl.
• Watch two videos (below). The first one is a discussion on the obsession with celebrity weight loss. The second is a trailer for the PBS documentary called FAT: What No One is Telling You.
  

On February 16, we begin talking about people with disabilities, and our assumptions behind that label. What constitutes "abled" or "disabled" and who gets to choose where to draw the line between those two labels? Some people get from point A to point B by walking. Others roll. Who says one way is better? How does all of this work with our images of the ideal man and woman? What are the consequences of being labeled "disabled" in our society? What do we think we know about people, based on their disability as a master status?

Required:

• Read You're Not a Retard, You're Just Wise by Taylor, in your textbook.
• Spend some time getting to know the timeline for Milestones in Long-Term Care Policies on NPR.
• Read about two archetypes we see in the media for people with disabilities: The Good Cripple and Supercrip. Both of these are part of a series called "The Transcontinental Disability Choir" on the Bitch Magazine Blog.
  
• Watch the video "The World Needs All Kinds of Minds" (below) from Dr. Temple Grandin. Grandin is a scholar and professor who has autism. She talks about how there are many ways of communicating, and understanding, and knowing, and how her autism allows her to understand things that non-autistic brains could not.
  

On February 21 we will finish this section of the course by watching the film Murderball and completing our discussion of what it means to be able-bodied. Be excited to see this documentary--not only will it blow you away, but the star of the film Mark Zupan will be coming to WSUV as the Marquee Diversity speaker on March 7! Here are the details. Reserve your seats now!

Required:

• Read the blog post "What is Ableist Language and Why Should You Care?" from the Bitch Magazine blog.
• Spend some time exploring the History of Deaf Rights, Culture and Language on the PBS Independent Lens web site.
• Read or listen to the story "Deaf Team's Standout Seasons Draws Cheers" from NPR.
• We will watch Murderball (see trailer below) in class. Learn more about quad rugby here. Remember the Film Review will be due by 9:00pm February 26th!
  

Bonus: Mark Zupan in Jackass Number Two!