Inquiry#3: Examined Life

Taylor's point of view in life is very intriguing. Her theory gave a new meaning to "a walk in the park". She explains how, as human beings, we all go for our walks for clarity, in a metaphorical sense, and we all have our different dependencies in doing so. We all either need physical, mental support and are dependent some way in another. Also as we take our walks we are all perceived differently through our interdependencies.

Living in San Francisco, Taylor believes that it is the most mobility stabled environment in the U.S. which brings a more disabled populated environment, so being disabled is not so shocking or alarming to people. She feels that it is nice to not be the "pioneer" of the bunch, and that its convenient for people working at stores or coffee shops to offer help rather then her inadvertently creating nervousness for people who are not used to a disabled person. Taylor also points out "how disabled people can creatively redo or reinvent those movements," and in doing so brings to light how abled people are "taking their body for granted and that using your body is socially constructed in our society". Butler emphasizes on the socially constructed views differ between an abled and a disabled person. At a baseball game, we all eat in some what inhumane ways, yet abled people are not looked at differently, but if a disabled person uses their body in a qwuirky way to get stuff done it seems rather unconventional. There is a political issue for disabled humans, and there are two different ways of which they are looked upon as: impaired or disabled. Impairment in Taylor's view, is just their way of making things work for them, but disability is a more derogatory term that places repression on our fellow disabled people.

I admire Taylor's way of living. Many people, even myself, sometimes fall into the trap of a life obstacle that is hard to get out of, which we may create an excuse or use as a crutch. Taylor lived through this "disability" everyday of her life which we all do some form or another, yet she finds a way to make it her own and get through, while diminishing the label of being disabled. Reading this article reminds you that we all have our issues, or physical mental adversities, but we should never let it get us down. There are ways around anything if you put your mind to it, believe in one's self and go against society's belief in what is normal and do what works for you.

-C.Mueller