I grew up in 1980s New England. I’m plenty familiar with the word and of course I used it growing up. I had an aunt with Down syndrome, one cousin with cerebral palsy, another with Rett syndrome. All awesome humans. Once I was an adult, it was just like…why the fuck would I use that word? These are people I love dearly.
Sure, maybe if we’re ranking insensitive slurs, it isn’t top of the list. I guess? And it’s an easy one to hold on to because it’s a group that isn’t generally in a position to speak up for themselves. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to do better.
I worked as a supported living coach helping adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities develop life skills. Or at least, that was the theory. In practice, most of my clients were on the lower side of enough functioning to truly live fully independently, although some did and were perfect for the program. But my wife taught at an adult day school focused on arts, and taught her students Shakespeare. And they fully understood. I’ve listened to full-on discussions of Shakespeare’s plays where it was clear her class fully understood.
If any group of people deserve an epithet less… I’m sure there are many who deserve it equally as little, but I’m not sure of any that deserve it any less than they do. lol.
I appreciate your post!
I grew up in 1980s New England. I’m plenty familiar with the word and of course I used it growing up. I had an aunt with Down syndrome, one cousin with cerebral palsy, another with Rett syndrome. All awesome humans. Once I was an adult, it was just like…why the fuck would I use that word? These are people I love dearly.
Sure, maybe if we’re ranking insensitive slurs, it isn’t top of the list. I guess? And it’s an easy one to hold on to because it’s a group that isn’t generally in a position to speak up for themselves. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to do better.
I worked as a supported living coach helping adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities develop life skills. Or at least, that was the theory. In practice, most of my clients were on the lower side of enough functioning to truly live fully independently, although some did and were perfect for the program. But my wife taught at an adult day school focused on arts, and taught her students Shakespeare. And they fully understood. I’ve listened to full-on discussions of Shakespeare’s plays where it was clear her class fully understood.
If any group of people deserve an epithet less… I’m sure there are many who deserve it equally as little, but I’m not sure of any that deserve it any less than they do. lol.