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What’s Hot: Our 2019 Wellness Predictions
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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be transgender? Imagine being forced to use the wrong hand all the time. Stay with me, it’ll make sense in a moment.
With just 10% of the population being left-handed, it’s a right-handed world. Left-handed people even have a statistically shorter life span. (Right-handed tools can be a real bummer.) We do get cute phrases like "lefties do it right," but the roots of our language bely something darker.
Take these words from the French. Adroit means clever or able, literally “right side.” Gauche means clumsy and awkward, from the French for “left side.” From Latin, we have the word dexterous, meaning having skilled hands. Its roots are “of the right.” The word sinister refers to the air of malignance, something subtly dangerous. You guessed it - “of the left.”
In the past, lefties were indeed seen as sinister. They were even accused of witchcraft and heresy. More recently, schools tried to punish and train the leftie out of you. My grandmother was left-handed, and no amount of conditioning could really change what felt natural to her. Punishment began in the first grade. Her "tendencies" invited lashings from teachers and administrators, or her arm being tied behind her back for hours on end. She hid, pretended, and coped until she was an adult and could hold her pen the way that felt comfortable to her. Now lefties have mugs with quirky sayings and funky stores in the mall.
Like left-handed people, trans people aren’t as common. Both groups have been looked upon with suspicion and disgust for doing what feels natural. Trans Day of Visibility is a day for us to show you that we are people finding our place in this world, just like you. If you are curious about trans issues and wish to learn more, here is a great place to start!