Coleman as a Lens for Parts of the Mooney Book - Essay Example

Coleman as a Lens for Parts of the Mooney Book Probably the greatest lesson on stigma can come from Jonathan Mooney’s story ‘The Short Bus’. Short-bus rider is used as a derogatory term for children in special education. This labeling is stigmatizing as Coleman puts in ‘Stigma: An enigma Demystified’. The inability to perform some functions should not be the bedrock for feelings of inferiority, which is a ray of truth from Coleman, reflected in the thirteen chapters of Jonathan Mooney’s book. Mooney explains the labels given to him and others with a similar condition are ‘dyslexic as well as profoundly disadvantaged with learning disability’. He sought out to learn how others managed to move out of and beyond such labels by buying his short bus. He then travelled across the country in search of children who held on to dreams of beautiful and magical ways of overcoming obstacles that separate them from what is otherwise referred to as ‘the normal world’. Coleman sets out to demystify the stigma surrounding the enigma of ‘normalcy’ to shed light on the inexistence of what society has labeled normal (Brown 179--192). The deviation from normative social categories created by the ones in the majority can result into a source of stigma for anyone according to Brown. Disability should not be painted or represented positively for those with shortcomings to counter the stigma experienced in society. Instead, the positive attributes and unique gifting of everyone is what makes the universe appreciate all in it and forge a sense of oneness. This is a reflection evident in Mooney’s book when he meets Brent in chapter three, ‘The hole in the door’ (Mooney 46). The interaction is one that elicits confidence and courage to face life and defines real living as finding a person’s own way to keep on. Coleman puts it that the concept of stigma places superiority on one and inferiority on another (Brown 179--192). The sense of ‘normalcy’ is just a conception of those who consider themselves ‘normal’ preying on the idea that those who lack one or two physiological functions are ‘abnormal’. The people considering their selves superior need affirmation from those they consider inferior, which in the real sense is fallacious (Link and Phelan 363--385). Mooney in relating with the story of Brent shows how the world around children with special needs can denigrate them and curtail the achievement of their full potential. The message that the world around Brent sends him is that he is broken and has to change or be fixed somehow, something that Coleman is in total disagreement. Coleman says that the consequence of bearing stigma as the one placed on Brent, Mooney, and the other’s diagnosed with a learning disability is development of similar perceptual problems as those of the people who are not stigmatized. This stereotyping is what Mooney had to overcome and graduate with honors from BU (Brown University). In living a full life, Mooney gets a lesson from twelve-year-old Brent that there is no such thing as ‘normal’ and life means giving your best shot (Mooney 51). The sense to this is a form of rebellion to societal labels and stereotypes, which Mooney is not short of in his narrations and experience. Coleman simply puts stigmatization as a fearful reaction to inherent differences leading to alienation of those who seem significantly different from the others. The beauty of differences that exist in the case of a particular disability is what society should embrace like in the story of Brent who loves soccer and sees it as an escape from the labeled world he lives in and is doing all he can to redefine. Coleman asserts that the interest with which children approach difference only turns into fear when they are a bit grown up; a sad turn of events that bring about stigmatization that otherwise was nonexistent. The story of Brent’s courage is one that sets Mooney reflecting on his own at the time he was Brent’s age. He is quick to note that the only difference is that he was fighting himself unlike Brent who was fighting against the odds (Mooney 56). Coleman’s demystification of stigma entails looking at the issue in terms of the reality that stigma indeed does exist in society, a case that should change for better development of the children with disability. Mooney is confident of the fact that from his attitude of positivity and the fighting spirit in him as well love for soccer, Brent is going to survive. This is true in Coleman’s argument that disability should be positively represented in society to reduce fear of it and stigmatization of those who are disabled or incapacitated in one way/area or another. Differences are not meant to produce a fearful reaction alienating the one with a disability, but should be viewed as a sign of amazing diversity, positive embrace, as well as interesting interaction (Link and Phelan 363--385). Brent the adolescent boy is diagnosed with ADD as well as language-based LD. His story connected with Mooney’s own, which started with frustration in education. Mooney in exploring disability and the problem behind diagnosis asserts that the reality of such a process is that it undervalues multiple intelligences in a traditional classroom setting. The traditional mindset in regarding academic achievement or excellence in reading and Math as the determinants of success is misguided and retracts the margin for that, which is given reward as successful behavior in the larger society. Coleman states clearly that this is the shape stigma takes to imply differences, which make a person undesired in a certain social setting like the classroom, playground or even at the workplace (Brown 179--192). In Mooney’s interaction with Kent in chapter five of his book ‘The sound of one hand clapping’, he is apt to note that the way to deal with stigmatization is having the ability to unlearn a negative self-concept (Mooney 75). In doing so, Mooney points to the fact that people like Kent, who is labeled ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), have extremes in performance. He notes that they can perform tasks they are good in with a near perfection excellence and what they are not good at is performed poorly in all sense of the word. These people are inclined to feel abnormal from the stigma placed on them through societal expectation and role definition. Mooney believes that this creates a negative self-concept like what he initially had after trying out and experiencing multiple academic failures. His story in comparison to Kent’s also had social rejection and frustration by peers who teased and taunted him (Mooney 76). The actions of hostility and disregard towards those with a condition such as ADHD makes them feel that their being different is undesirable and so are they. This is placing stigma on the person with the condition. Coleman examines the manner in which children learn to stigmatize differences that are undesired in society. Parental interaction aids the social learning process in children. Children learn to modify their innate curiosity response to be able to recognize variations in humans with regard to a fear response. This identification and categorization of who to render unto positive or negative feelings may result in self-stigma or stigmatization of others. Mooney reflects this concept in his interaction with Kent and from his story gives a different perspective to the complete social cognition process. The first thing in unlearning the devastating negative self-concept according to Mooney is to examine the things that are right as well as what is wrong with oneself. The crucial step is to major or focus on the right things or what a person labeled ADHD is able to do best. This creates a sense of empowerment and self appreciation that eventually causes others to relate to the person from their strong points rather than looking down on their weaknesses. Coleman identifies with this fact and is insistent on changing the societal mindset from defining people by their deficiency to defining them by their strengths or ability (Brown 179--192). According to Mooney in interacting with Kent and finding out his academic brilliance, such a person should not be labeled and condemned by society as ADHD. Instead of defining him with his disability as disabled, he should be seen and taken as a person with special ability, which is his area of specialization and in Kent’s case, it is academic prowess. In a humorous manner, Mooney makes narration of societal stereotypes in relation to the people he interacts with on his journeys. The stories of Kent, Brent, and Mooney paint a picture of special people who have been thrown into an unnecessary battlefield of prevailing against stigma placed on them by society, which should embrace them instead. The people with LD or ADHD are supposed to be seen as part of a diverse universe or creation, who add value to humanity as opposed to being damaged and impaired. Harvard was prejudiced and biased in turning down Kent’s admission to the institution due to manifestation of ADHD syndrome during the interview. This is because Kent had a brilliant mind that could challenge and compete with any other intellectual as well as compliment institutional brilliance, which is why Brown readily admitted him (Mooney 77). This raises the concept of the third way, which according to Mooney is helpful in unmasking some fallacious stereotypes in society that define what is ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’. Works cited Abbey, Susan, Manon Charbonneau, Wayne Baici, MD Layla Dabby, Mamta Gautam and Michael ParE. "Stigma and discrimination." Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 56. 10 (2011): 90--93. Print. Brown, Lerita M Coleman. "Stigma: An Enigma Demystified." The Disability Studies Reader, (2013): 179--192. Print. Inzlicht, Michael, Linda Mckay and Joshua Aronson. "Stigma as ego depletion how being the target of prejudice affects self-control." 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"Beyond the dilemma of difference: The capability approach to disability and special educational needs." Journal of philosophy of education, 39. 3 (2005): 443--459. Print. Thornicroft, Graham, Nisha Mehta, Elaine Brohan and Aliya Kassam. "Stigma and discrimination." Principles of Social Psychiatry, 25. 2 (2010): 331. Print. Read More