Robert Mcruer's Compulsory Voluntary

In Robert McRuer’s “Compulsory Able-Bodiedness and Queer/Disabled Existence,” he introduces the theory of compulsory able-bodiedness into the discussion of Adrienne Rich’s theory of compulsory heterosexuality. Just as society enforces the notion of heterosexuality being the natural and normal sexuality, McRuer argues that in society, able-bodiedness is not only the normal, it is more natural than heterosexuality. Additionally, he writes that the system of compulsory able-bodiedness works in conjunction with the system of compulsory heterosexuality, and how both queer and disabled identities can combat these systems together. As a queer and disabled person, I know firsthand how we live in a compulsory heterosexual and able-bodied world. In this world, you are expected to act, think and behave like an able-bodied heterosexual to the best of your ability. However, as McRuer states in the text, these performances of ability and sexuality are bound to fail because “the ideal able-bodied identity can never, once and for all, be achieved” (McRuer 400).
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On one hand, severely disabled is already a label for people who have a severe disability such as Alzheimer's disease and autism. This can allow severely disabled folks to take agency of the label and further embrace their identity as a disabled person. On the other hand, not all disabled people have a severe disability. Can non-severely disabled people proclaim themselves as severely disabled? And do all severely disabled people wish to proclaim this identity? Personally, as a disabled person, I would not identify myself as severely disabled because with my doctors, medications and therapy, I can function through life both mentally and physically. Nevertheless, as a womanist, I will continue to fight compulsory able-bodiedness and heterosexuality by living my life to the