CAPS 3

Labels can make a powerful statements. People every day put labels others and are labeled themselves. At times we label others subconsciously but other times it's a full effort of categorizing
someone. In the video above, Lauren Potter from "Glee" fight to end the use of the R-word. This video is posed on the End the R word movement page, along with many others fighting to end the use of the word. The dominant group in our society, that is people without disablitites, have used the R-word to refer to someone that is doing something stupid. The dominant group in the past has rarely though about the pain it causes those with a disability.

Ellen Seidman worries for her son Max every time she hears the word "retarded." Her son has cerebral  palsy and she worries that people will never show him the respect he is due and treat him as an equal. Ellen is quoted with saying, "It's about helping to see people with cognitive impairments as great people, as competent people, as people who can contribute in so many ways to our society." Ellen believes the pledge to stop using the R-word is one small step in eliminating the prejudices held against those with cognitive impairments. An article in the Huffington Post titled, "What Really Happens When You Use the R-Word," talks about whenever someone is calling someone the r-word the are using that word as a put down. The article talks about when someone uses the R word they are using it to describe someone who is being stupid, crazy or an idiot. 


It is important to be aware of the labels we put on people. Each article I read talked about the feelings that the use of the r-word causes in those with someone of disabilities. Putting labels on someone who may perhaps have a cognitive disability causes one to come to conclusions about that individual that may in fact not be at all true. It can cause someone to believe that they already know enough about that person that they don't need to explore anything past that label. When the dominant group labels the non-dominant group it causes hostility and can create huge communication barriers. If we think we already know enough about a person based on their label we are the naive ones.


Grinberg, Emanuella. "Ending the R-word: Ban it or understand it?." CNN. Cable News Network, 7 Mar. 2012. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/07/living/end-r-word/index.html>.

McGinley, John. "What Really Happens When You Use the R-Word." The Huffington Post.
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 4 Mar. 2014. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-c-mcginley/what-really-happens-when-you-use-the-r-word_b_4896444.html>.

"Your Stories." R-word. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://www.r-word.org/>.