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They stripped me of my identity

Prologue

The following is a true story of one of my friends, who used to study with me in the sixth grade. He used to write, and do other tasks with his left hand, i.e. he was a left-hander. Due to the pressure from his family and friends, he had to write and do his tasks using his right hand. The story is a first-person excerpt through his eyes.

The Story

I was a bright student who scored well. I was good at extra-curricular activities too. Even with all these achievements, the only thing that people noticed in me was the fact that I use my left hand to write and carry out my tasks. It was not the fact that my handwriting was bad or that I did not use my left hand properly; my cursive handwriting was one among the best, and with expertise, I carried out all my tasks to perfection using my left hand. But all that they noticed was that I used my left hand to write.

In kindergarten, my teachers did not like the fact that I was a left-hander. They tried their best to change this fact. Whenever I used to sit for writing, they used to give me a chair made for right-handed people. Writing using the left hand was very difficult in that chair. I protested against this action of theirs, but they did not pay any heed to that. Apparently, being a left-hander was something unruly for them. When I came to the first grade, things were no better. Now we had to write a lot of notes, and it was difficult to match the teacher’s pace since I was a left-hander. Even now, the behaviour towards people like us, who used left hand more often, was not very good. They thought it was some sort of supernatural duty to prevent people from writing using their left hand.

be unique

(courtesy:theconversation.com)

The situation from second to fifth grade was no better. By sixth grade, I started embracing myself. My teachers in sixth grade did not care about which hand I used for writing. So technically, I had to rediscover myself and my true sense. I did not want to be in the rat race. I did not want my wings to be clipped; I just wanted to fly high. I wanted to be unique. People advocate so much for ‘uniqueness’ and the ‘Be Unique’ attitude, yet they themselves fall prey to the rat race instigated by the society and its norms.

Being a left-hander is a big struggle. Most of the items and machinery are made to suit right-handed people. Left-handers have to adapt and use the machinery using the left hand. The chairs in our schools had the board attached to the right-hand side. I could not write fast with my right hand, and so I had to use my left hand every now and then. Plus the rebukes and insults the other students give to you is unbearable.

Be Unique!

stand out of crowd                                                                   (courtesy:dreamstime.com)

This may seem like a trivial story, but thousands of people face such adversities every day. People are stripped of their identity just because he/she does not fit into the norms of society. People lose their identity by learning the wrong things from home and school. Being a left-hander isn’t abnormal. It is completely normal to be a left-hander. In recent days, many companies have come forward to make furniture and machinery that left-handers can use without any issues. People are slowly realising that being unique or different from the others is not abnormal; on the contrary, it is an asset.

What do you think?

36 Points

Written by Creig Luke

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Amna Alim

Being a left-hander i can really relatw to this one

Amna Alim

Very well written keep up the good work

Lutfia Khan

your work really stands out!

Lutfia Khan

this is all so relatable and so honest.

Nidhi Dahiya

Amazing work…keep it up

Anamta Khan

Very well written!

Brinda S

well written!

Hiba Javed

Informative!!

Riya Rajkotiya

Nice title
Very well written

Srijita Chatterjee

It is a really nice article, especially unique with the personal anecdote. The struggles that have been highlighted is very real, and the ending and the message is really nice,.

Suja P

This world is all about stripping of our identity the social, culture does not accept us the way we are and want to criticise the other. The article is beautifully written on how people try to take away our identity. Not only being left hand, but the identity of being part of the LGBTQ community, the identity of being an empowered woman, and a lot of these identities are also suppressed under this society.

Alby Thomas

To adjust with cultural and societal norms we sometime forget who we are and go behind others and give up our identity attitudes and beliefs. Well written ❤️

Fathima Muskaan

Being a right-handed person I’ve never thought about anything that you mentioned in your article. We are all so indulged in our struggles that we often neglect others’ problems or how our behaviour ( silly ones) would impact their lives. I’m perplexed.
You have me a new perspective today.
I hope I do try to be more empathetic towards everyone.
Thanks man!

Lavanya Bahl

This shocked me to my core.Can’t believe that something so simple and natural, due to no fault of the person, isn’t tolerable to people’s mindset. The fact that your friend protested against their authority in Kindergarten highlights what a strong person he is. I’ve had friends who had to struggle for more or less the same reasons as well. Definitely being unique is something to be proud about. I hope he’s doing good now. More power to him!

Hardeep Kaur

This brings out the hypocrisy of the society. They talk about being unique but never accepts people who are unique. People need to know and accept.
Very well put out.

Harshita Das

Waaww… it was so interesting to be read about, did not know about such existing hypocrisy. But learning new things is never boring. Thanks a lot.

Kritika Bhair

left handers are more smart I guess
good luck

Jigyasa vashistha

Thanks for this one..Love your article.. This is so informative.. Keep writing.. & all the very best for your future. ✨

Shruti Shashidharan

Through your experience you shared such a powerful message!

Sabira Solanki

I can’t believe people actually discriminate and make fun of people for using left hand for their tasks?! I’m so sorry that you had to go through this, and I’m proud that you didn’t let them clip your wings, and find your true identity, so amazing!

Yashaswini Bhat

loved reading it.

Leanne Rebelo

This is so true. “People lose their identity.” Mainly because society’s expectations and uneducated beliefs. Be it being left-handed people, sexuality, not wanting to adhere to certain traditions or even the need for privacy. Not only do they condemn the act but also undermine the persons act.
This article has been an eye opener. Thank you.

Leanne Rebelo

undermine the persons worth*

Parvathy M

Really well written 🙂 I remember by aunt telling me how her brother (my uncle) was forced to write with his right hand by their parents because of their ignorance. It seems like such a trivial matter, but it actually is a valid, prevalent issue and I’m glad you’ve written about it!!!

Laiqua Mustafa

Hey,
It was truly shocking for me to know that there are still people who try to change and individuals identity. I am myself a left hander. It was very wierd for me as I was completely different from others in my class. But eventually I have learnt to accept myself and during my 10th I got the first prize in handwriting competition. I hope everyone can learn to believe in themselves and accept themselves truly.

Gousia

Describe your “self” without using your job title or the role you play in your day-to-day life.well explanation yaar