The Stigma of Disabilities
Stigma is something that has been around as long as any kind of society has existed. It's just a part of human nature and society whether we like it or not. It used to play a vital role in society. It was used to preserve society from dangerous people like robbers or murderers who posed a threat to society's norms (http://www.webmd.com). The second reason was to keep society safe from illness. Before we had enough medication to keep people healthy the only other option was to send the sick ones away. In fact this happens in "Fuse", every time someone gets sick in the Dome- where the Pures live- or is falling behind intellectually they are carted off to quarantine, never to be seen again. Stigma may have been an important quality to society many years ago that doesn't mean that we need it today. In today's world, stigma is unnecessary. Stigma will always be present because it's ingrained in our society and our need to preserve ourselves. But that doesn't mean we have to accept it.
In "Fuse" the wretches battle stigma from the Pures that they come in contact with. They even have to battle stigma from other people who have similar scars and fusings. A character in the book named El Capitan has to deal with it a lot because he is fused to his brother, Helmud, who is fused to El Capitan's back. El Capitan resents Helmud because everyone gives them a strange look when they meet them. But just because they are connected to each other for the rest of their lives that doesn't mean they can't continue on with their lives. El Capitan begins to develop feelings for Pressia halfway through the book which really frustrated me because of love triangle reasons, which is relevant. I was texting my sister as I was reading (she recommended the trilogy to me.) and she said that she liked the feelings because it shows how even though someone has a major disability they can still have feelings and be a normal person. Often when a person is born with a disability or develops one, people around them can become distant because they don't know how to act around them because they think that their friend has to be different now because of the disability. People often ask "how can you live a whole life?" about or to someone who has a disability. Just because someone has a disability it doesn't mean that someone doesn't live a "whole life." There are several reasons that I can think of as to why someone feels uncomfortable around a person with a disability. One, it's because they don't know how to act around them. They don't know what to say, and what not to say. In "The Fault In Our Stars" Hazel's friend always catches herself when she says something like "I would die if..." Another reason that people are apprehensive around someone with a disability is because they just aren't educated. They don't know what's going to happen around them so they don't like the unpredictability of being around someone who is disabled.
Insecurities is another topic that is relevant in Fuse. Several times Pressia and Bradwell have conversations about if the opportunity arose would they want to get rid of their deformities. I'm not sure if I'll cover this, or the stigma. Stigma probably because it's a loaded topic.
In "Fuse" the wretches battle stigma from the Pures that they come in contact with. They even have to battle stigma from other people who have similar scars and fusings. A character in the book named El Capitan has to deal with it a lot because he is fused to his brother, Helmud, who is fused to El Capitan's back. El Capitan resents Helmud because everyone gives them a strange look when they meet them. But just because they are connected to each other for the rest of their lives that doesn't mean they can't continue on with their lives. El Capitan begins to develop feelings for Pressia halfway through the book which really frustrated me because of love triangle reasons, which is relevant. I was texting my sister as I was reading (she recommended the trilogy to me.) and she said that she liked the feelings because it shows how even though someone has a major disability they can still have feelings and be a normal person. Often when a person is born with a disability or develops one, people around them can become distant because they don't know how to act around them because they think that their friend has to be different now because of the disability. People often ask "how can you live a whole life?" about or to someone who has a disability. Just because someone has a disability it doesn't mean that someone doesn't live a "whole life." There are several reasons that I can think of as to why someone feels uncomfortable around a person with a disability. One, it's because they don't know how to act around them. They don't know what to say, and what not to say. In "The Fault In Our Stars" Hazel's friend always catches herself when she says something like "I would die if..." Another reason that people are apprehensive around someone with a disability is because they just aren't educated. They don't know what's going to happen around them so they don't like the unpredictability of being around someone who is disabled.
Insecurities is another topic that is relevant in Fuse. Several times Pressia and Bradwell have conversations about if the opportunity arose would they want to get rid of their deformities. I'm not sure if I'll cover this, or the stigma. Stigma probably because it's a loaded topic.
A Note for Ms. Romano: I am taking a completely different direction for my project. I have decided to drop disabilities as my topic and pursue the subject of atomic bombs.
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