Ethnic Studies Student Association presents: “Normalizing Differences”
May 7, 2020

Everyday we are confronted with norms and averages. We are ranked, measured, calculated and balanced. Are we above average weight or below average height? Do we measure up in terms of reading, writing, or math skills? How much money do we make in comparison to others? Everyday we are trained to correlate our rank with our sense of self worth and happiness. Everyday we gaze upon others and rank and judge them. This is a pernicious and problematic process. Lennard J. Davis explains, “to understand the disabled body, one must return to the concept of the norm, the normal body.” Considering this, we must turn from focusing on the disabled body as a problem and instead focuses on how the construction of normalcy creates the “problem” of the disabled person.

In Spring 2020, ESSA held a series of events to create a safe space for individuals of all abilities to investigate normality as a social construct and to discuss the different ways ability intersects with race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and class. With this final online installment, held March 30th, we invited three incredible speakers to discuss the contributions one incredibly diverse population has made toward normalizing difference and toward making the world a better safer place for people of all abilities.

 

ES Alumni Stories 2020
March 3, 2020

The Department of Ethnic Studies has the best students. Here is the proof. Our History, Our Way. Your Education, Your Future.