Nancy Mairs On Being A Cripple Summary

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Everyone has an identity, yet everyone identifies with differnt things. Identities can be easily defined and versatile. You are not born with a set identity but develop it when you grow up based on the ideas of others, how others view you, and how you view yourself. Sometimes the ideas of others change and the ideas of how you view yourself change. In the essay, “On Being a Cripple” by Nancy Mairs, she identifies herself as a cripple instead of using the politically correct term “handicapped”. She chooses to identify as a cripple because that is how she sees herself. There has always been the argument of nature vs nurture, and whether a person’s identity is made up from their DNA or determined by external factors like life experiences and the …show more content…
Their identity is then developed overtime. In the essay, “On Being a Cripple”, Nancy Mairs referred to herself as a cripple because that is what society viewed her as. Mairs states that she, “want[ed] them to see [her] as a tough customer, one to whom the fates/gods/viruses have not been kind, but who can face the brutal truth of her existence squarely”(260). Mairs is basically using the views of society to her advantage so she can have the upper hand. In this case, Mairs life experience with being cripple is an external factor because she technically conforms to society's views about her. Being cripple is Mairs’ identity and it gives her individualism to express herself freely. Society’s views on a certain demographic can potentially influence the way a person sees themselves. Thus, if if you have control over the development of your identity, the “stigma” of what your identity “should” be will not matter. Life experiences and the environment one comes from helps to make up one’s …show more content…
There are many external factors in a person’s life that can shape a person’s identity. And identities can develop over time. When reading some of the essays in 50 Essays: A Portable Anthology, they mainly dealt with individuals who were able to control the development of their identity. Even though external factors impeded the process of growth in society, a person can manage to have multiple identities. The way they are at home may be different to the way they act at school or in a different setting. The multiple identities may be due to conforming to society and if so that personality is the way that person acts in a certain setting. Thus, that personality is within them; and they are able to balance different identities in in different settings. There are certain criteria that groups must have to meet the expectation of society. And it is abnormal if it is lower or higher that society’s expectations. Going back to Daniel Kish in, “How to Become Batman”, he proved society's low expectations wrong by being a blind man who could ride a bike. He definitely has control over the development of his identity and does not let the detriment of being blind come in his way. Lastly, because Nancy Mairs refers to herself as a “cripple”, it gives herself power over society's views towards her. The ideas that others have on a person determines what that
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