Sherri Tepper, a prolific author of science fiction, said “Nothing limits intelligence more than ignorance; nothing fosters ignorance more than one's own opinions; nothing strengthens opinions more than refusing to look at reality.” Today, society constructs metaphors that stigmatized illness like blindness without productively acknowledging the reality is an act of ignorance. This problematic approach is addressed in the novels Illness as Metaphor and Aids and Its Metaphor by the American author Susan Sontag. Sontag critiqued how speaking of an illness metaphorically has many negative consequences to people’s afflicted with the condition. Sontag noticed that, “Subjects of deepest dreads (corruption, decay, weakness) are identified with the
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These stereotypes that pervaded in the workforce have put people afflicted with blindness at a disadvantage of being hired even before they get the chance to demonstrate their capability. Having these stigmatizations of the condition can ignore the possibility that a person afflicted with blindness may not be associated with any of these stereotypes. The way society stigmatizes blindness is counterproductive in understanding the reality that people afflicted with blindness can take on many jobs based on the individual's capabilities and qualities. This reality is often hidden from managers by negative stereotypes of blindness, which Sontag suggests punishes people afflicted with blindness by adding unnecessary meaning to an illness (58).
Moreover, the way society adds unnecessary meaning to blindness has the consequence of dehumanizing individuals afflicted with blindness. In a blog on Quora, Cristina Hartmann expresses her experience with retinitis pigmentosa and Usher syndrome that has led her to have a gradual vision loss. Hartmann points out, “Some blind people have acuity issues; others have blind spots, but…what I see is unique to me and my condition.” Hartman tells us that the reality is that there are many different medical conditions of blindness, yet society’s perception is not always medically based. Hartmann also …show more content…
This increased awareness may encourage people to be more willing to assist blind people. To the contrary, Hartmann’s experience suggested an increased awareness from stereotypes may even be insulting rather than beneficial. In her blog, Hartmann recalls, “Once, I asked this woman for directions, and she proceeded to lead me, step by step…when she tried to take over, I had to tell her firmly that I was fine and that she should go on with what she was doing. Her intentions were good, but overweening kindness is ...insulting.” As a result of stereotypes of blindness, society conforms to the beliefs, such as every blind person needs to be accommodated for like a lost child. This act makes people afflicted with blindness lose their anonymity and ultimately insults them for being less superior to the norm. When one’s privacy is invaded by stereotypes in society, it is methodologically dehumanizing because having anonymity is a civil
These stereotypes that pervaded in the workforce have put people afflicted with blindness at a disadvantage of being hired even before they get the chance to demonstrate their capability. Having these stigmatizations of the condition can ignore the possibility that a person afflicted with blindness may not be associated with any of these stereotypes. The way society stigmatizes blindness is counterproductive in understanding the reality that people afflicted with blindness can take on many jobs based on the individual's capabilities and qualities. This reality is often hidden from managers by negative stereotypes of blindness, which Sontag suggests punishes people afflicted with blindness by adding unnecessary meaning to an illness (58).
Moreover, the way society adds unnecessary meaning to blindness has the consequence of dehumanizing individuals afflicted with blindness. In a blog on Quora, Cristina Hartmann expresses her experience with retinitis pigmentosa and Usher syndrome that has led her to have a gradual vision loss. Hartmann points out, “Some blind people have acuity issues; others have blind spots, but…what I see is unique to me and my condition.” Hartman tells us that the reality is that there are many different medical conditions of blindness, yet society’s perception is not always medically based. Hartmann also …show more content…
This increased awareness may encourage people to be more willing to assist blind people. To the contrary, Hartmann’s experience suggested an increased awareness from stereotypes may even be insulting rather than beneficial. In her blog, Hartmann recalls, “Once, I asked this woman for directions, and she proceeded to lead me, step by step…when she tried to take over, I had to tell her firmly that I was fine and that she should go on with what she was doing. Her intentions were good, but overweening kindness is ...insulting.” As a result of stereotypes of blindness, society conforms to the beliefs, such as every blind person needs to be accommodated for like a lost child. This act makes people afflicted with blindness lose their anonymity and ultimately insults them for being less superior to the norm. When one’s privacy is invaded by stereotypes in society, it is methodologically dehumanizing because having anonymity is a civil