In a world where prosthetics are becoming increasingly common, what truly defines disability becomes difficult to discern. In some cases, a prosthetic limb can become a mechanical advantage, such as when Oscar Pistorius's running blades came into controversy with the International Association of Athletics Federations. Even in the current running space, the Nike Vaporflys are introducing discussion on where the line of natural skill falls. What was once called "disability" may soon pave the road towards human enhancement, with our current anatomy being seen as a disadvantage. Although Hollywood's portrayal is largely hyperbolic, running blades and exo-suits are already a reality, giving the user increased agility and strength. In Mairs' piece "Disability", she throws around the word "cripple", and seeks to normalize and accept those with physical flaws. Her work was written in 1987, and while we have not quite reached the level, what was once grounds for ostracism could very well become grounds for envy. Labels are limitations set only time and society, and as we progress into the future labels are becoming a personal choice rather than a handicap. I'm sure that Mairs' vision for the future was vastly different than enhancement, but at the same time it presents a bright world of new opportunity and general acceptance for all those with physical ailments. The primary issue of the future remains bioethics and what is an acceptable change to make, but just like other social issues, it is a broad and continuous debate full of compromises. Like landlines in the era of smartphones, the term "disability" may soon find itself an outdated relic of the past.
Sunday, February 2, 2020
What Defines Disablility?
In a world where prosthetics are becoming increasingly common, what truly defines disability becomes difficult to discern. In some cases, a prosthetic limb can become a mechanical advantage, such as when Oscar Pistorius's running blades came into controversy with the International Association of Athletics Federations. Even in the current running space, the Nike Vaporflys are introducing discussion on where the line of natural skill falls. What was once called "disability" may soon pave the road towards human enhancement, with our current anatomy being seen as a disadvantage. Although Hollywood's portrayal is largely hyperbolic, running blades and exo-suits are already a reality, giving the user increased agility and strength. In Mairs' piece "Disability", she throws around the word "cripple", and seeks to normalize and accept those with physical flaws. Her work was written in 1987, and while we have not quite reached the level, what was once grounds for ostracism could very well become grounds for envy. Labels are limitations set only time and society, and as we progress into the future labels are becoming a personal choice rather than a handicap. I'm sure that Mairs' vision for the future was vastly different than enhancement, but at the same time it presents a bright world of new opportunity and general acceptance for all those with physical ailments. The primary issue of the future remains bioethics and what is an acceptable change to make, but just like other social issues, it is a broad and continuous debate full of compromises. Like landlines in the era of smartphones, the term "disability" may soon find itself an outdated relic of the past.
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Really enjoyed your take on disability! It's interesting to think about some disabilities seemingly giving athletes a leg up in competition, even if overall quality of life is often lower than that of abled people (or TAPs, in Mairs's words). I'm super curious to see how the sports community will react to more and more developments like Pistorius's running blades, and if someday, these athletes will be put into a higher competition class than others.
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