Sitting Pretty - Chapters 1 & 2
1. How important is the concept of the body in your culture?
2. In what ways does your country/community in which you live tackle the problems disabled people face every day?
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1) I think that people assign significant importance to the body, especially its appearance. If I were to make some generalisations, I would say that most people want to present themselves well so as to avoid standing out in the crowd too much and steer clear of furtive glances and comments (perhaps still due to the fear of “what other might say or think about me”). However, nowadays more and more people take pride in their bodies and view them as a means of self-expression, which might be attributed to the influence of popular media and the growing interest in body positivity and normativity movements.
ReplyDelete2) In Poland, there are various solutions to support people with disabilities such as ramps, elevators, dedicated spaces for wheelchair users, braille signage in elevators, etc. I do not have much knowledge about the situation of people with disabilities regarding the employment situation. I often hear about some initiatives aimed at raising awareness about challenges faced by disabled individuals, though. For instance, in my primary school, World Autism Awareness Day was held. The students watched some films about autism, participated in classes designed to provide insights into the experience of autistic children and had quizzes on autism. While I hope that these activities were not just superficial gestures for the sake of generating positive publicity, I believe they provided the students with opportunities for meaningful reflection and understanding.
1)The human body has always been an integral part of the art of European civilization,which indicates the anthropocentrism of Western culture in general.Throughout the history of mankind and art,approaches and goals in depicting human nature have changed ,reflecting the general moods and views of a particular era.2) The main rules of communication with disable person
Delete1 Ask before you help
Just because someone has a disablity or impairment does not mean that she or he needs help. Under normal circumstances,people with disabilities can usually get around just fine.
Be careful about physical contact
The body position of some people with disabilities depend on condition and position of their hands.Grabbing hands,even if your intention is to help,can throw off their balance.
Think before you speak.
Always speak directly to the person with a disability,not to their companion,assistant or sign language interpreter
Do not make assumptions
People with disabilities themselves are the best judges of what they can and cannotdo.
I think the question of body involves hugely the representation of bodies in media and in our general vicinity. Like the author said in chapter 1, it isn't always logical assumption we made to feel shame about our body, it's subconscious conditioning of : did I see bodies similar to mine around? In adds, in films in pictures? Or was it only ever a hushed topic no one wanted to speak on. Often even when nothing hurtful is said the representation or lack of it is enough, at in culture well. How they see you is how they perceive you.
ReplyDeleteThe awareness in Poland is improving vastly, though I don't know how when compared to the rest of the world I know we came a long way from when I was a child. When it comes to disabilities that render one unable to care for themselves the organisation Caritas as well as different funds do a great job at creating opportunities for growth and education, but even with them many of the disabled people involved can't be independent because of lack of accessibility. For example even if many buildings have wheelchair ramps the way sidewalks are built isn't wheelchair accessible in many if not most places
Katlynn Montoya: USA
ReplyDelete1. In my culture, the concept of the body is significant because there are specific beauty standards that each women and man are expected to live up to. Many influential people such as social media stars, Victoria Secret models, and even people whom you see on the tv must have the ideal body type. Women are expected to be slim in the waste while also having a nice chest and butt to go along with it. There is the standard that men must go to the gym and have abs to be an ideal looking gentle man. Many times, the fat actors get casted as back ground characters because they are not what society sees as "normal." Such people who are bigger might also get ridiculed by people such as doctors and looked to as less than enough because they are not skinny.
2. Our community makes sure that we have wheel chair ramp access for those people who may need it, and insurance also gives these individuals assistance because getting an job might be a lot harder for them. Our community also has days where people with both physical or mental disabilities can go can shop in an environment where they are not as over stimulated because there is less people and they turn the music way down. There are a lot of programs that can help people who have a physical disability, however, such programs are hard to obtain when you have a disability that is not physically seen by others.
The concept of the body is important in my culture. Especially since we have the era of social media, where the body has a significant meaning. The way presenting it on social media can motivate to act or lead to complexes, especially for young observers. But it is worth adding that more and more people are beginning to accept themselves and also instagramers appear on the stories without filters on their faces, etc.
ReplyDeleteIn Poland, people with disabilities can count on material support as well as other people's help. For example, in stores, schools we have many facilities such as handrails, elevators etc. Honestly, help in the form of such facilities is necessary for disabled people but I think other people's help is invaluable.
ReplyDelete1.) I believe that the body is often perceived to be the essence of a person. The way one presents, their behaviour, their clothing, as well as the physical characteristics - all those qualities are interpreted, and then, the analysed person is assigned a pre-prepared mental tag. The creation of the categories of what is acceptable and desirable in the collective mind occurs, to a certain degree, via media, as described by Rebekah in the second chapter. Slim, thin, and perfectly proportioned are just some of the attributes which might be unachievable for a large portion of society. Despite many attempts to diversify the representation, the media still pander to normality, which is a "crowd-sourced fantasy" (in the words of Sean Lionadh).
2.) My country seems to be rather open when considering the everyday issues of disabled people. From public transportation to infrastructure, the solutions implemented are varied and suit many needs of people who may struggle with mobility or sensory impairments. Ramps alongside stairs, buttons near tram and bus stations which, after being pushed, inform one of the upcoming departure times, elevators, specially adapted bathrooms, pavements with features that allow the visually impaired person to identify the pedestrian crossing - the list goes on. Although the solutions are numerous, they do not cover all the difficulties that a person with a disability can face. In light of Rebekah's observation regarding the inevitable impact that the passage of time has on one's body, I find it crucial that our ageing society respects the older generations' needs. As the percentage of elderly people in the society grows, so will the demand for accommodations. The number of accessible public toilets, benches on which one can rest during a walk or the speed at which the zebra crossing light turns from green to red are just some of the problems yet to be addressed.
1. In terms of American culture, the concept of the body is fairly toxic. Today's society tries to make everyone's body type inclusive to one another but on the other side, it's one sided. In standards, if you were not the most fit person with working limbs, you were made fun of online.
ReplyDelete2. There is not much my community does in particular. I say that because we rarely really look down on anyone with a disability (I speak from experience) simply because they have all the resources they need. If they need a helping hand, anyone is willing to help. Other than that, people with disabilities are so resilient with the resources they have, my community doesn't do much. In other words, my community provides resources and the occasional hand that those with disabilities use.
1. In America the concept of the body is changing very quickly. Not too long ago people were shamed when they didn't fit into American standards, but people openly spoke out against this. Now the body is less used as something to force conformity, and is now used as a form of expression. People use things like fashion, and makeup to augment their appearance to match their personal feelings rather than to conform to the societal norms.
ReplyDelete2. I would say that in America there are quite a few things that are done to ensure disabled people are accommodated in their daily lives. There are many laws that businesses have to follow that ensure that disabled people of many varieties have access to things like restaurants, movies, healthcare offices, public transport, and various other public access things. These laws also make discrimination against disabled people illegal which helps disabled people be viewed for who they are rather than what physical problems they may have.
Ensley Mehlberg (United States)
ReplyDelete1. How important is the concept of the body in your culture?
Body in my culture is very important. I feel people like to show off there body types and not really care what it looks like, but there are a lot that do. I do not think your body defines who you are. There is no way that one small aspect of yourself is the most judged thing in society.
2. In what ways does your country/community in which you live tackle the problems disabled people face every day?
I feel like where I live is very accommodating to people with disabilities. so much so that I feel sometimes they focus way more on people that are disabled rather then everyone. Not to say that able people need more attention then disabled, but being equal would be easier to accommodate both.
Liam Walsh (USA)
Delete1. How important is the concept of the body in your culture?
The concept of body image is very important in my culture. Many people are obsessed with how they look, but not necessarily in terms of health. Instead, they tend to pose themselves or modify their appearance in photos, using filters and Photoshop. The images they post on social media do not represent what they actually look like, but it forces other people to try to look like these doctored images in real life. People here should worry less about their social media posts and focus more on making their body healthy.
2. In what ways does your country/community in which you live tackle the problems disabled people face every day?
In my country, we have a national law called the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that ensures access to buildings, sporting events, and educational accommodations for many different types of disabilities. Though we could do better in terms of inclusion of people with disabilities in physical activities, many cities have competitive sports leagues for people with disabilities, much like the Paralympics does for international competitions.
Andrea Flores( United States)
ReplyDelete1. how important is the concept of body in your culture?
the concept of body in my culture is very important, women are constantly hyperaware of what they put into there bodies because they want to conform to societal norms of beauty.this is the same for men everyone wants to look a certain way to be seen as beautiful or good-looking.lately in he past year or so there is a lot more body positivity but people are still comparing themselves to others over working their bodies at the gym because the want to lose weight or gain to look good in the way society deems right.
2.in what ways does your country/community in which you live tackle the problems disabled people face every day?
I think the the community I live is very accommodating to people with disabilities. in a way that gives them all the same chances as anyone else without judgement.there are skating tournaments for people with disabilities which is very cool and art classes that allow them to showcase their talents.
Jimena Garcia Jimenez (United States)
ReplyDelete1. How important is the concept of the body in your culture?
In my culture body concept is extremely important, as it is something seen as a tool. My family always says that being able-bodied means you owe it to yourself to be productive. In terms of looks and the value placed in that there are often polar opposites where vanity comes into play. Some sides of my culture revolve around having a body that represents what you enjoy which would be the rich food and drinks that make up so much of the culture. We view the body as an instrument more than something that is only for looks, however a lot of the younger community seems to put more value in that aspect as now it's part of your main value.
2. In what ways does your country/community in which you live tackle the problems disabled people face every day?
In my community there is a lot of help with the new generation taking charge and making this easy and accessible, mentally and physically. More consideration without the demand for those needs to be met, overall not the best as you see in urban centers but better as before there was a lot of talk of how any form of disabilities were seen as a product of something negative, which is ridiculous, though thanks to modern society those views are changing and will change.
1.) am from Mexico, but my family is from different areas. Things such as language and standards differs vastly in each area of the country. In my mom's side of the culture, people who are overweight are seen as healthy. This is because food is a scarce resource, and if you can afford to eat then that means you live a good life. But the concept of the body is not important and people don't look much into it. In my Dad's side of the culture, women are supposed to have curves. Men are supposed to be able to work and provide for the family. Without a healthy body you can't work.
ReplyDelete2.) The country I currently live in (United States) provides a lot for disabled people, such as ramps, elevators, wheelchair accessible entries, and wide paths for wheelchair users (though, there are certain areas that are not wheelchair inclusive).
1. I think it all depends on who you talk with. I have had chance to talk with both kinds of people. On one hand we have the people who say that body doesn't define you and it should't matter, and the other half saying it does becuase it shows your ablity to control yourself in a healthy matter. I would say it's really hard to say it doesn't because at the end of the day a lot of society still sees the body.
ReplyDelete2. I think that our country though on the surface doesn't really seem like it tackles the idea of people in need. Though for me to discredit everyone in a whole would be wrong. I do believe that many organazations are helping and making new ways to make life better here in the US, compared to a lot of third world countries I would say to have some pride that we even are making such great advances.
Pablo Garcia (United States)
ReplyDelete1. In my culture body concept can be depicted as many things but the main idea that is represents it more is that if you are overweight that means you are living good and have a good life and make goos money and if your skinny then that means that you can’t support yourself financially and probably won’t survive on your own.
2. In the USA which is where I live there are a lot of accessibility for disabled people such as ramps, elevators, and wheelchair entries.
1)As a Mexican the concept of the body isn't really important to my culture to my knowledge as long as your not to fat to work and move around stuff you should be okay.
ReplyDelete2) In Mexico we dont really tackle stuff for the disabled if you been in the streets of mexico you would understand that our culture and archeticture is non disabled friendly.
Sarah Skenfield, USA
ReplyDelete1. How important is the concept of the body in your culture?
I feel in American culture that the human body is a very complicated and complex topic. So many people struggle with body confidence, and I think in America we really do not do a good job at all of helping people feel more comfortable in their bodies. For many years, women have had to witness “trending” body types. Many women over the years have tied to change their bodies to fit these “fads”. I am very excited to read this book because I feel as though Rebekah’s story’s directly counter this toxic body culture. I think she will help many people, not just in America, but all over the world be comfortable in their bodies.
2. In what ways does your country/community in which you live tackle the problems disabled people face every day?
I personally do not have any physical disabilities, so I cannot speak for physically disabled people. From what I am aware of, we have grown in accommodations in our country for disabled people. For example, in many of my lecture halls, there are signs on the door that state accommodations for deaf people. There are also ramps to make it easier for people with physical disabilities to get to the chairs all the way in the back of the lecture hall. Again, I cannot speak for disabled people, but I am happy to see that my university is starting to have some accommodations for disabled people. This is a step in the right direction.
Sara Cybulska (PANS NYSA)
DeleteI completely resonate with your perspective, Sarah. The complex nature of the concept of the body is indeed prevalent in many cultures, and it's heartening to see discussions challenging the prevailing toxic body culture. Rebekah's story, as you mentioned, has the potential to inspire and resonate globally, fostering a sense of comfort and acceptance in one's own body.
In Poland, similar struggles with body confidence exist, and societal pressure to conform to certain body types has been pervasive. However, there's a growing movement towards embracing diverse body shapes and challenging unrealistic beauty standards. The importance of promoting a positive body image is gaining recognition, and individuals are increasingly encouraged to celebrate their uniqueness.
It's encouraging to witness a global shift towards fostering body confidence and acceptance, acknowledging that beauty comes in various forms. Rebekah's story and narratives like hers contribute significantly to this positive change. I agree with your sentiments, and it's heartening to see a collective effort to redefine societal attitudes towards the body, both in America and globally.
How important is our body in our culture. I'm from Mexico and it's complex for both Man and women because we all see people differently and we tend to judge people by their looks first and it creates this halo affect when we see someone beautiful, and we would think that their nice and caring.
ReplyDeleteThe things I seen around my community tackling problems disable disabled people face every day. In school there are ramps to make it easier to get to classes and there are more parking spaces made for the disabled and desks designed and marked for them.
Keyris: from mexico
ReplyDeleteHow important is the concept of the body in your culture?
It is something very important here in Mexico, everyone cares about them self a lot. They judge you about everthing like your clothes, hair, body, make-up, and that's something really annoying.
2. In what ways does your country/community in which you live tackle the problems disabled people face every day?
They try to include to all the people, but it is not the best because sometimes there exists a lot of things like in my school the spaces for a wheelchair are very dangerous, the ramps are steep and they are not in good condition
Hector Abisai Guzman from Mexico
ReplyDelete1) From my position, people will bother you by the fact of your body shape, color, height, and weight but not in a severe manner because the only person that can hurt you is yourself.
2) From what I observe people only do the minimum they have to do like on the ramps they are just there but really can't be used by a person in a wheelchair without help or even blind people wouldn't be able to manage themselves in the city without someone guiding them, they just pretend to care but really don't do nothing to help
1. The concept of body in my culture is quite important, especially now that social media are developing more and more. I think that most people pay attention to their looks, which eventually causes insecurities among many due to comparing it to others. On the other hand, it is becoming more visible now, that social media are also changing in a way that starts to promote a body-positive image, hopefully soon we will be able to see the results of this process in everyday life.
ReplyDelete2. In Poland, we can notice multiple ramps leading to the buildings or elevators, moreover, we can also find lowered curbs, so it’s easier for people in wheelchairs to cross the road. Disabled people in Poland can also get an endowment from the government. Even with all these things and many more, I still think there are many problems, for instance, unfortunately, not all the buildings have an elevator, or sometimes the rooms inside a building, class, etc. are not adjusted for people in wheelchairs, there’s simply not enough space. I think that now after reading the book, I will start to pay way more attention to such things.
ReplyDeleteIn Poland, our country has taken various measures to address the challenges that disabled people face on a daily basis. Some of these include:
Accessibility: There has been a concerted effort to make public spaces, transportation, and buildings more accessible to people with disabilities. This includes the construction of ramps, elevators, and accessible public transportation options.
Anti-discrimination laws: Poland has implemented anti-discrimination laws that protect the rights of disabled individuals in areas such as employment, education, and access to goods and services.
Support services: Various support services, including social and healthcare programs, are available to help disabled individuals. These services aim to improve their quality of life and provide necessary assistance.
Education: Special education programs and inclusive schooling options are provided to ensure that disabled students receive a quality education and have the opportunity to integrate into mainstream classrooms.
Employment opportunities: Efforts have been made to promote employment opportunities for disabled individuals. This includes incentives for employers to hire disabled workers and vocational training programs.
Advocacy and awareness: Various disability rights organizations and advocacy groups work to raise awareness about the challenges faced by disabled people and promote inclusivity and equal opportunities.
It's important to note that while progress has been made, there are still challenges and areas for improvement in addressing the needs of disabled individuals in Poland.
2. In my homeland we tackle with problems that disabled people face in quite efficient way I can say. We have many ramps and elevators so people using wheelchairs could get into buildings, unfortunately many places, especially old buildings still lack these solutions, but I can proudly say that it changes for the better day by day.
ReplyDelete2. Poland provides lots of help for disabled people, such as ramps, lifts for the wheelchairs, information written in Braille and markings at the floor to help blind people, who use the cane
ReplyDeletePoland. 1) Im my culture the concept of the body is pretty important. People can be constantly judged just based on apperance, especialy in small communities.
ReplyDelete2) Out country tries to accomodate the disbled, but we are far from perfect.
2.
ReplyDeleteIn Poland, people with disabilities have a pretty good support, people are understanding and willing to help if there's any issue. When it comes to architecture for example, there's a lot of improvement comparing to how it was a couple years ago. Disabled people have access to elevators, railways, ramps near stairs, public transportation often have additional spaces for wheelchairs, lowered curbs, bathrooms with easier access for those with special needs. Even though we have all these things, there's always room for improvement, that's why it would be great to renovate every space so it could be accessible to those who are disabled.
1. The concept of the body is certainly important in our culture, but not in a good way. People more often than not are judged and sometimes shunned for their physical appearance and well being. It can be especially troublesome for those with disabilities.
ReplyDelete2. These problems are tackled by a variety of communities, that specialise in helping those in need.
For example, volunteers devote themselves to making cities more accessible to impaired people by bringing attention to and changing places that may cause difficulties to those with disabilities
DeleteRegarding the second question, in my country you can see a lot of assistance provided for disabled people in everyday spaces, especially the visually impaired. On every crosswalk in big cities there's audio indicators to when it's safe to move, there are marks in the city for walking stick users and there is usually braille accompanying relevant information, such as elevator buttons or office/door numbers. However, ramps and elevators for wheelchair users or otherwise movement impaired individuals are unfortunately still quite rare to see, but there are definitely more than there were in the past. Thankfully, the younger people in Poland are usually very considerate, and if they see somebody having trouble with an everyday task because of their disabilities, they will probably help. The biggest issue in Poland with ableism to me is the emphasis on only the disabilities which you can clearly see, mostly people with mobility/hearing aids. If you have a mental illness, no matter what kind or how severe, it is very unlikely that you will be taken seriously unless you become a genuine threat to yourself or others. Mental illness can sometimes be just as disabling as a paralyzed body. Everybody deserves help with whatever they're going through, and I hope that Poland will begin to accomodate for different needs that many disabled people have.
ReplyDeleteMy country tackles the problems disabled people face every day by making buildings, everyday things and vehicles accessible for them. Every bus and tram in Poland have a space for people on wheelchairs and a ramp that they can use when getting on. Almost every higher building has an elevator and I noticed that more and more shops also have ramps next to the stairs. When crossing the road there is also a sound made by traffic lights so that blind people can cross the road safely.
ReplyDeleteHere, in Poland, I feel like bigger cities are well adapted for people with disabilities. Almost every building has separate entrance for those who can’t use stairs. Even public transport has special equipment and areas for disabled people. It is worth mentioning that most of the citizens are happy to help disabled people when needed. However the problem is more complicated when you live in a smaller city or in the country. Not every building has an elevator or a ramp to support a wheelchair. It is also a bit harder to get a medical help that they need because they might not have a proper equipment. All things considered I think that Poland manages to tackle those problems quite well.
ReplyDelete1. I think that the concept of the body is an important one in my culture. A person’s appearance is the first thing that we see when interacting with anyone, and though it can sometimes be harmful, it’s only natural that we make assumptions based off of it. Unfortunately, the media in my country often promotes a very specific beauty standard, which for many is simply unattainable. Most of the representation we see in media is of conventionally attractive, able-bodied people.
ReplyDelete1. Although I live in Poland, I would say that the topic taking care of your body is mainly discussed on social media, in context of gym, fitness or eating disorders, which probably makes my experience universal for people from other countries. More and more people in this day and age spread awareness about importance of taking proper care of both your body and mind. I would say that more people than ever take proper care of themselves, seeing as the fitness culture is popular like never before.
ReplyDelete2. As someone with a disabled person in my family, I would say that problems of this community are not an everyday topic and stay mostly overlooked by general public. It is mostly disabled people themselves and their close ones that try to tackle this issue. As is the case with many other problems, any attempts to spread awareness about this state of things results in momentary attention before people move on with their lives. It is hardly surprising, people tend to not pay as much attention to problems that do not affect them directly, and you can hardly blame them.
2. I think there are many solutions for people with disabilities in my country. More and more public places are trying to improve so that everyone can enjoy their goods. They install ramps, elevators or create special parking spaces. Even in public transport there are seats reserved for disabled people. Since childhood, we are taught in schools how important it is to raise awareness of all disabilities and how we should respect others regardless of their problem because it is not always visible. We still have a long way to go but we are trying to be better so everyone can feel comfortable in our country.
ReplyDeletePoland seems to handle the problems of disabled people quite well, especially in bigger cities. Take public transportation as an example, there are a lot of amenities either in buses or trams. The stops as well as vehicles themselves are easily accessible. Most of them have ramps for people on a wheelchair and a special spot where the wheelchair can be placed inside. There are also amenities for blind and deaf people that include visual and touch sensations so that they can easily identify where they are and when they need to get out. Public Transportation is not the only place where you can find those amenities. Almost every building nowadays has an elevator and a special ramp for people on a wheelchair. Those are only few examples and there is a lot more that can be said. Unfortunately this is a big problem in the countryside where most of those things are non existent and this is something that has to be changed in the nearby future.
ReplyDelete2. In my country there's more and more buildings with elevators, in some shopping centres there's time when intensivity of lights and sounds is lowered so that people with autism have easier time shopping. Most of places are accessible for people who use wheelchairs. While crossing the road there're not only light signals but also sound signals that inform blind people when it is safe to cross the road. Moreover in some buildings there are special dots on the ground that help blind people to walk in certain directions. In my country there's also material help for people with disabilities. However these solutions apply mostly to areas in cities. In rural areas there's still many buildings or generally places which are unaccessible or even dangerous for people with disabilities.
ReplyDelete1. How important is the concept of the body in your culture?
ReplyDeleteI think that unfortunately, in my culture body image is something (too) important. It is especially visible among girls and women. From my observations, and unfortunately experience, even little girls are taught to be pretty, dress up, focus on their weight since very young age, as if it was what makes a person most valuable.
2. In what ways does your country/community in which you live tackle the problems disabled people face every day?
In my community we support disabled people and their families by organizing charity actions to collect money for the treatment. Also, I remember that in my highschool we had a volunteer’s club, the members of which prepared performances or Christmas/Easter cards to later share it with people who lived in nursing home.
The concept of the body is a very big thing in Poland and I think all over the world as well.Since we have social media and we see people posting their bodies almost everyday so we compare ourselves to them and think about how our figure is not as good as the one we've just seen which can lead to depression in the future.Everyone should feel good in their own body and shouldn't compare it to others because of some "beauty standards"
ReplyDelete1) Personally, I think polish people care a lot about person's appearance. It is a somewhat of a basic standard among locals that we present ourselves from the better side. Therefore people tend to look down on people who dress differently or who have a different body type then the rest. From amy experience I can tell how it can effect someone life when they are rejected, or worse, bullies because of it. That is why I think we should not care as much about the look a person is presenting to us. At the end the personality is more important than how you look or what you wear.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1. How important is the concept of the body in your culture.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of the body in my culture is important in a bad way. From the things I’ve heard and from my own experience I can say that in Poland the concept of “beautiful” body is discussed even with kids, which isn’t supposed to take place because children aren’t supposed to worry about their appearance since such a young age. The pressure about having “perfect” bodies is also put on us through social media. Many influencers edit their photos in ways that cause insecurities among their viewers. I also have a feeling that many people judge others by their appearance which is extremely harming in many ways.
In my opinion Poland, and more specifically - Polish citizens, have very harsh opinions about the concept of beauty and body. In the minds of people, everyone should aspire to have the perfect proportions, weight and looks, that are classified as attractive. Individuals that fit those criteria are treated and perceived better by the general public, and those that are 'abnormal' or have features that do not fit the criteria, are described as weird. Polish people that aren't up to the standards have a harder time blending into other groups, and often are treated as rejects.
ReplyDelete1.I am from Poland and In my opinion the concept of the body while not irrelevant is of secondary consern to Polish people. Appearances do matter and I feel like no matter where you're from youmay have some negative experiences with people juding you based on your appearance because that's just basic human instinct however it is far from the be-all and end-all.
ReplyDelete2. In my experience the bigger the city , the more accessibility options you'll find. It is very common to find ramps, brail writing, elevators and wheelchair friendly escelators and many more. Sadly those options are not available in all of the corners of Poland but there are more of them being implemented every day which is a step in the right direction in my opinion.
1. I think that every culture has its own concept of the body. All are different. In my country the concept of the body is still important even though people try to change its importance. The concept touches women in most, because of the social media. Males see photoshopped photos on instagram, facebook ect. and think that is the norm and girls look like that in real life. It is obviously not true because for example stretch marks, belly are normal things which we shouldn’t be ashamed of. In my country girls who aren’t thin enough aren’t found as attractive as the thin ones. They are expected to be thin but in the same time to be a bit curvy what is rare. Because of that concept people have a lot of insecurities and problems with self acceptance.
ReplyDeleteFrom boys it is required to be well built and manly enough. Some of them can’t gain weight even though they would like to and their self esteem is low. Too fat people may have health problems but they feel like they do not meet the expectations and aren’t good enough.
I believe the concept of “perfect” body won’t disappear very soon even if we fight it because social media shows mostly only “perfect bodies” and young people strive to look like that.
Concept of body very often varies from country to country. For example in Poland we don’t really pay attention to what a person looks like anymore, since it’s become normalised that we want to express ourselves in ways such as extraordinary clothing, tattoos, piercings, hairstyles. However in Asian countries such as Japan, appearance is actually still a big deal. Their culture is very much focused on respecting elders so even showing too much body can come across as being disrespectful. You also can’t enter some public spaces with visable tattoos as their history is often recognised with criminal intent. That’s why before travelling to countries that simply have their own cultural norms - for example related to the concept of body - we should do proper research.
ReplyDeleteIn my culture body is considered important. Unfortunately or not, your looks will have an impact on how you are perceived. I noticed that older people in my country tend to dislike the idea of difference in body image. On the other hand, there are young people, who have the need to express themselves in various ways. I think it is beautiful that despite all hateful comments they still want to be themselves and are not scared of showing their personality through their body. I’m glad that less appreciated types of bodies are exposed to media, finally gaining the recognition they deserve.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2: My country offers a variety of accommodations for people with disabilities. I remember in my high school we had several students who used wheelchairs. The building was accessible to them because of the elevators, ramps, spacious hallways and toilets designed for people with movement impairments. Unfortunately this isn't the case for most public schools. Many buildings with old architecture lack the amenities which would be helpful for people with disabilities. Disabled people who are unable to work can also get financial help from the government.
ReplyDelete1.)
ReplyDeleteIn my culture body is considered important. Unfortunately or not, your looks will have an impact on how you are perceived. I noticed that older people in my country tend to dislike the idea of difference in body image. On the other hand, there are young people, who have the need to express themselves in various ways. I think it is beautiful that despite all hateful comments they still want to be themselves and are not scared of showing their personality through their body. I’m glad that less appreciated types of bodies are exposed to media, finally gaining the recognition they deserve.
2. In Poland there are many accommodations for disabled people. In many places such as shops, offices, banks, etc., there are ramps or elevators for wheelchair users. Many museums offer braille signages for people with vision problems. Disabled people can also count on the material support from the government. Also, in public transport, there are often dedicated spaces for wheelchair users and they can ask for the driver’s help to get on the bus or tram. I think that awareness in Poland is improving very fast. For example, I know that at some schools, there are special days when students are learning about different disabilities.
ReplyDelete1. How important is the concept of the body in your culture?
ReplyDeleteI think it is quite important in Poland, especially in public spaces, such as social media. Unfortunately, most of celebrities continue to popularize an unhealthy, often unachievable image of body. It’s the type of appearance, that creates body image issues and insecurities in people. It doesn’t apply only to young girls, every social media user is affected by that negative influence. Even children are affected by that nowadays. We can also observe that in TV programs, even news ones, where hosts mostly look like people you’d see in magazines. Disabled people in, for example movies, are non-existent, too. I don’t think I’ve seen a Polish movie with a disabled character, which presents disability as something different than totally preventing them from living their life to the fullest.
It’s changing, though. People are becoming more and more accepting of the way they look. Those beauty standards are slowly starting to fade as people start noticing that the images we see online are not perfect, but problematic, unhealthy and toxic. I have to admit that some influencers are doing a good job in helping with that.
2. In what ways does your country/community in which you live tackle the problems disabled people face every day?
In Poland there are organizations which provide all kinds of help for people with disabilities, governmental ones, associations and fundations. I’m not sure how it looks like in practice, though. Except that, there are many facilities, such as ramps, elevators, spaces made specially for wheelchairs users, bathrooms, parking spaces, etc. Unfortunately, we won’t find such solutions everywhere, especially in older buildings.
For question one.
ReplyDeleteI think that concept of body in place i'm living in is quite important. Some people are very adamant on appropriate look and behavior and it often bleeds onto internet culture and social media where you can get negative comments if you look or act different for some reason or another. Usually people leave comments like that because that's what they learnt at home.
For question two
The city I live in is not adapted for disabled people. The ammount of ramps, rails and elevators is very limited, with last one being only in the tallest building which makes it hard not only for people in wheelchair but also for people with invisible mobility issues who can't really climb that high up or go down. Elevators also make flat costs higher which means that if you need one for one reason or another you need to pay more for accesing it.
In response to the first question, the concept of the body is significant due to beauty ideals in my culture. There is a criteria for both women and men which are anticipated to adhere to. However people try to change the situation now. For instance, mannequins are made more naturally showing that every body is unique and perfect. Another example can be bloggers or models, which show themselves without make-up just in a way they are. The standards of beauty are changing. That makes people value and love their bodies.
ReplyDeleteTalking about the second question, our community is trying to adapt the environment to all individuals. For example, making inclusive education, what is really important, or wheelchair-friendly accessibility to public places. However, I believe that we still have to do a lot, starting from the question of inclusion.
Hi, this is Monika Śmiechowska from Poland. In our country, until recently, the custom was that people with disabilities should be isolated from the rest of society. Fortunately, this is slowly starting to change and young people have respect for such people. There are kindergartens and schools where disabled children go with other healthy children without disabilities. And this is a good thing, because the right values are being taught from an early age. Cinemas make it easier for people with autism, for example, where the lights are dimmed and the sound is turned down. It is important to remember that disability is not just about being in a wheelchair. Some illnesses are not visible and it is important to respect each person and understand their problem.
ReplyDelete1 I think the concept of the body is important everywhere these days. On the one hand, there are people who say that the body does not matter much and what is important is knowledge and behaviour. On the other hand, many people on social media display their bodies and are commented on in all sorts of nice or unpleasant ways, which can lead to complexes. Some people, because of illnesses, have no control over their body image and people still make hurtful comments.
ReplyDelete2 In Poland people with disabilities can get material support. There are also many organisations helping and creating new ways to help people with disabilities. For example, in many places there are special entrances next to stairs or handrails.
Hello, Dominik Benesz from Poland here! Personally, I believe that the concept of a body can be understood in a variety of perspectives, such as biological, philosophical and, the most important one, cultural and social. Each person can understand this concept differently - some may say that the concept of body isn't something interesting in particular, on the other hand a lot of people tend to associate bodies in a sort of symbolic way. By that I mean that it might carry, for instance, representative identity or beauty standards. Many of us view portray our bodies and apperiances as something important, something to care about and thrive to be the best possible in terms of looks, health, etc. Unfortunately, a great deal of people tend to laugh at people whose bodies are different than theirs - whether they are obese, crippled, and so on. Despite that, overall I'd say that the concept of body in Poland is relatively important, but not as much as in other countries.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to how Poland handles the problems of disbaled people, like many other countries, Poland in fact addresses the needs and challenges people with disabilities face on daily basis through variety of methods. For instance, Poland has special laws to protect right of disabled people. Additionally, a lot of structures were improved so that they have better accessibility (installing ramps, elevators, and such) for those who, for example, use wheelchairs or crutches - by doing so they can move around without issues. Furthermore, polish schools teach children how to integrate with disabled. They also teach them to show respect and treat them equally. All in all, Poland handles the matter of challenges disabled people face on daily basis quite well. Of course, there are also many more ways it is done, and many interesting ideas are made every day on how to improve their lives.
1. The concept of body in my culture is something important, beauty standards are something that changes our perspective on things, our bodies, or our appearance. I think it’s not a positive thing, nobody should be treated differently just because they don’t fit into a certain category of a beauty standard, it can lead to insecurities and feeling like we need to change something just because “it should be like this”. People treat others badly when they think that someone looks different in a way and others don’t care about it at all but overall i think beauty standards shouldn’t exist and nobody should be judged for their appearance.
ReplyDelete2. I feel like it’s not talked about enough, people who are not disabled don’t really want to know about what disabled people have to face every day. We learn from the book, that they feel like it doesn’t affect them since they can walk on their own or hear, see. There are even situations in which they’re treated differently or made fun of just because they’re for example, in a wheelchair. It’s important to have a basic understanding on that disability is not something that we have to avoid just because we’re not disabled. When it comes to the ways that my culture/community helps disabled people, i think that in bigger cities it’s common that there are for example, elevators in the buildings but i feel like there is always more that can be done to help disabled people feel comfortable with everything.
1. Personally I think in my country its not that important. Espesially when we compare our culture to for example Asian beauty standard. There beauty canons are very strict and a lot of young people just blindy follows it
ReplyDelete2. Its a very taboo topick, but in publici places theres a lot of amenities for them to have no problem in functioning. Personally i dont know many disabled people so I'm not able to say what problems they have on daily basis. But I see word changes for them.
Paulina Stęglowska. Nysa
1. I think that, generally, Poles pay attention to their bodies in terms of „what might other people/neighbours/coworkers say?". Such a way of thinking is highly problematic as it promotes a sense of shame or even fear of being oneself. Fortunately, as our society grows, learns and develops, all of us become more aware of what actually matters and we shift our focus to other aspects.
ReplyDelete2. Poland provides various solutions for people with disabilities; including, financial support, employment programmes, or equal opportunities to access education. With relation to accessibility, there have been ongoing initiatives to improve physical accessibility in public spaces, transportation, and buildings. Ramps, elevators, and specialized facilities have been introduced to make public areas more accessible for those with mobility challenges. All of which aims at addressing and helping with various challenges disabled people face in their daily lives.
1. I think the concept of body still plays a significant role in my culture. It's usually the first thing we focus on when meeting a new person. Body is used to roughly determine one's well-being, and their attitude towards keeping themselves healthy and fit. It's also related to beauty standards. The most important factor when judging one's attractiveness is usually their body, whether it's appropriate or not. It does unfortunately lead to stereotypes, and people considered "attractive" are often treated better in the society.
ReplyDelete2. My country actively tries to make life easier for people with disabilities. For example nearly anywhere in cities there are special places for the disabled, be it on parking lots or special seats in public spaces. They also have access to faster healthcare. In pharmacies, clinics etc. There is a special queue, so that they don't have to wait as long. Various services, such as public transport, are also much cheaper, helping them manage their spending. I believe there's also special welfare programs, offering financial help depending on the severity of one disability/disabilities. In conclusion, I think Poland does a good job in making lives of the disabled at least a little bit better
1. It is important, definitely. It's the first thing people notice in each other and, unfortunately, sometimes make some assumptions. Obviously, we're not free of beauty standards - I don't think there's a culture that is. The question "What will the neighbours think?" is still something that many people consider when, for example, choosing what to wear, what to do with their hair etc. It has been getting better, definitely, especially with the younger generation.
ReplyDelete2. I live in a small town. There are ramps to some buildings, and to some - there's a button next to the door which you can press and an employee will help a disabled person enter. However, there's literally no buildings with an elevator - all of the blocks of flats in my town are quite old. But even if the architecture poses some limitations, I know for a fact that people would help a disabled person with no issue if it was needed.
Kacper Zybert (Poland, Nysa)
ReplyDelete1. It is important. People in Poland tend to focus more on their appearance, leading to insecurities as they compare themselves to others. Many celebrities persist in promoting an unrealistic and often unhealthy body ideal and that only adds to the problem.
2. In my country there are a lot of amenities for disabled people. Ramps, elevators, bathrooms, parking spots, special medical facilities and more. Unfortunately not in every city and even if there are, these amenities are only near the city's central part. I know for a fact disabled people are not marginalized at least not in my community. We often help disabled people with tasks, of course if they don't want any help we don't insist, but they know they can count on us.
1. How important is the concept of the body in your culture?
ReplyDeleteConcept of body is very important in my culture, especially when we are children, we often look for the biggest flaws in someone, so if someone is overweight we use that to hurt him. However, I think that this changes as we grow up, for the better, of course. As the as adults, we stop looking at things like obesity or simply flaws in people, but unfortunately this is not always the case.
2. In what ways does your country/community in which you live tackle the problems disabled people face every day?
Well, it all depends, my country pays people with disabilities, it's not much so most people with disabilities must work even even when they can't. Fortunately, there are many places that help people with such problems like pomagam or fundacja agnieszka. And when it comes to my community I think that everyone tries to help such people, especially when we see someone with disabilities.