The older I have grown the more I have seen the crippling effects of societal mindsets. Simply looking at the various changes in roles of women, men, children, and races has revealed the side effects of societal norms. From working on plantations without rights to their own bodies to finally becoming integrated and viewed as equal, African Americans have suffered the stigma associated with their race. Alongside this is the issue of women's rights and their desires to become involved in the workforce. Over time and gradual mindset changes equality and rights have been achieved, but I believe the real issue behind societal expectations can be found in the definitions of words and how they are used. Aimee Mullins does an incredible job emphasizing the importance of word definitions and how they are used in her Ted Talks about the demeaning impact of the word "disabled" to refer to an individual with special needs. By reading the synonyms listed with this word, Mullins points out the demise of a person when referred to as disabled. I was completely astounded by the debilitating synonyms of this word and cannot imagine my reaction to hearing someone refer to me as "disabled" when in reality it means that I am impotent and incapable of independence. However, Mullins turns this negative into a positive by emphasizing how important it is for individuals to not look at their issues as the end but as a chance to adapt. One idea that really sticks with me from this talk is how she mentioned it's not confrontation that we should be surprised to encounter - everyone encounters issues - but it is how we respond that truly matters. Mullins herself is an incredible example of how issues in life can be overcome if we trust in the innate ability of human adaptation.
Something I have been accustomed to growing up are the phrases "shake it off" or "suck it up" after falling down or sustaining an injury. Having grown up in a family where there were many children to support on a tight budget, I understood the fact that a hospital visit was the last resort. Undoubtedly this has facilitated my understanding that you shrug it off and move on. To a certain extent, I agree with this ideal. However, after learning the extreme results of certain injuries and their lifelong effects, I may have my future child's doctor on speed dial! Something that continued to bother me during the story of nurse, Dawn Pereda, was the fact that her own facility where she worked sent her home after she sustained a severe head injury. It wasn't until hours after alarming symptoms began to appear that she was screened for an injury. By this point, it was too late. Now life relies on a schedule that must be maintained or she will not be able to
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