Evaluation of Silver’s Way of Understanding What It Means to Be Disabled
Silver’s idea of human disability is based on the conditions defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that was published in 1990 and provided people with physical or mental impairments with equal to normal individuals’ protection (Silver 209). However, the evaluation of the conditions under which people with disabilities have to live and be treated helps to realize that society defines disability as a reason for domination rather than suppression. At the same time, such burning attention to this group of people just proves that society regards human disabilities not as their natural inferiorities but as the basis to create a separate minority social status and treat them in different ways making them special or just different indeed (Silver 222).
People may be disabled because of a variety of reasons, and these reasons have to be taken into account when a person is defined as disabling. It is wrong to treat a person, who becomes disabled as a result of some terrible accident, the same way a person with inborn disabilities is treated. I think that the people suffered because of accidents have already known something about a real-life, their challenges, beauties, and abilities.
People, who are disabled from the very beginning of their lives, do not have the same opportunities and knowledge. This is why even disabled people have to be classified accordingly. Still, it is wrong to believe that all people are equal and have equal rights in all spheres of life regarding their disabilities. It is not necessary to talk about the rights and definitions all the time; sometimes, it is just possible to take pity of disabled people, help them, or give a portion of understanding.
Appel’s Claim that Sexual Pleasure Is a Fundamental Right that Should Be Available to All
Nowadays, the idea of sexual relations and human rights to sexual experience and freedoms is not as strange, inappropriate, or forbidden as it was several years ago. Appel underlines the importance to consider sex as a fundamental element of human rights. It means that even people with disabilities should never lose hope to lose their virginities and enjoy pleasure from physical contact. The main point is how people should understand disability and what they think about sexuality.
It is wrong to believe that sexuality ends when a person suffers from a disability. People are free to choose whether they can or want to have sexual relations or not. Of course, there are cases when disabled people are not able to think rationally due to their mental problems. In these situations, the idea of sexual rights for people should be thoroughly evaluated and analyzed by the peculiarities. In all other cases, when people have physical disabilities or any other problems, they should not be deprived of the right to sexual relations.
Still, it is necessary to remember that any kind of sexual relations should be based on a mutual desire or, at least, be free from violence, compulsion, or another type of enforcement (e.g. the service of prostitutes).
I truly believe in the power of the claim that sexual pleasure should be regarded as “a fundamental element of human rights… and… a fundamental vehicle of communication and love between people” (Appel 152) with the help of which even people with disabilities can know what sexuality means. Time and human experience have already shown how crucial respect for each other’s rights and needs is, and people should not be deprived of sex even if they are deprived of good health.
Works Cited
Appel, Jacob, M. “Sex Rights for the Disabled?” Journal of Medical Ethics. 36 (2010): 152-154. Print.
Silvers, Anita. “(In)Equality, (Ab)Normality, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.” Journal of Medicine and Philosophy. 21(1996): 209-224. Print.