Restoring and Retaining Dignity to those with Physical Diversity and Mental Illness

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“One in evert four people experiences mental health issues – yet more than 40% of the countries worldwide have no mental health policy” (“How should we talk about mental health?,” 2013). This quote is crucial to spreading awareness about the severity of mental health and all around physical diversity. What ways can we retain or restore dignity to people with physical adversity and/or mental illness?

• Treat all people equal, whether they have a physical adversity or not. Harriet McBryde Johnson is the perfect example of someone who has proven that anyone is capable of achieving their dreams as long as one sets their mind to it, and whether one is seen as capable to society or not. Harriet was a woman with a physical adversity who broadened her career as an author, attorney, and disability rights activist. She was disabled due to a neuromuscular disease and used a motorized wheelchair (Ervin, 2004).
• Avoid calling those with physical adversities words like “crazy” or “psycho” (“How should we talk about mental health?,” 2013). These stigmatizing words become quickly embedded in people’s minds from a young age when one may be bullied or made fun of for being “different” (“How should we talk about mental health?,” 2013). This about this.. “Should we call cancer a ‘cell cycle problem’? Calling serious mental illness a ‘behavioral health problem’ is like calling cancer a ‘pain problem'” (“How should we talk about mental health?,” 2013). Saying things like this about cancer isn’t realistic is it? Why should it be any different for those who have mental health problems or physical adversities? It shouldn’t be. One must avoid using degrading terms and words to define those just because they differentiate from them, and realize that those with these adversities obtain an equal amount of self worth and dignity as anyone without adversities.
• Separate the person from the problem (“How should we talk about mental health?,” 2013). Speak of “someone with schizophrenia,” not the schizophrenic,” making this distinction honors and respects these individuals (“How should we talk about mental health?,” 2013). “What you’re really saying is, this is something that’s not part of a person; it’s something the person is suffering from or is living with, and it’s a different thing from the person” (“How should we talk about mental health?,” 2013). Making this distinction clear serves to uphold the dignity of those associated and gives them a sense of appreciation and respect. Those who have been so blessed as to not have been born with a physical diversity should realize that they are blessed; but also must come to the realization that one does not obtain a greater amount of self worth, dignity, or respect simply because of this gift from God. Those with physical adversities were put on this earth for a reason, and to accomplish great things just as the rest of us obtain the ability to do. ANYONE is capable of ANYTHING. Limitations cannot be set upon anyone BY anyone.
• Along with the article about Harriet Johnson, the article “How should we talk about mental health,” explains that Steve Jobs and Einstein both encountered and dealt with physical adversities. These individuals were among some of the smartest people of all time. This is discussed throughout the category of recognizing the amazing contributions of people with mental health differences (“How should we talk about mental health?,” 2013). Einstein and Steve Jobs are only mentioned because they have passed away, however, there are countless geniuses in this world with physical adversities doing amazing things that we are not even aware of. (“How should we talk about mental health?,” 2013). One must serve to avoid underestimating ANYONE’S capabilities.

 

Ervin, Mike. “Person of the Year. Harriet McBryde Johnson: A Life Well Lived – New Mobility.” New Mobility. 01 Jan. 2004. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.

“How Should We Talk about Mental Health?” Ideastedcom. 18 Dec. 2013. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.

Photos Upholding Human Dignity

This photo upholds the human dignity these two ladies because this picture illustrates care, love, and compassion. The elderly woman’s dignity is being upheld by the young girl because she is caring for her and making sure that she is being taken care of. The care given to her by this woman is giving her a sense of worth and being appreciated. The feeling of accomplishment is achieved by the young women by caring for the elderly woman, resulting in the upholding of her human dignity due to the feeling of accomplishing a task that is so vigorous and humble. I work with the elderly so can relate first hand with the upholding of my dignity I benefit from while working with the elderly.

This photo upholds the dignity of the migrants in this picture due to the support being shown by the church. This support will provide these migrants with the feeling of love, importance, and worth. There are many people on this earth who do not participate in the support of migrants while find jobs and opportunities to become stable in order to support themselves. This photo demonstrates first hand what it looks like to step back and treat migrants like the rest of us and remembering that their dignity must be upheld as well. The upholding of everyone’s dignity is important in order to achieve happiness and fulfillment among all. Relating back to the article Wisdom Dignity, and Justice: Higher Education as a Work of Mercy it was stated, “Unlike other strands of Christianity, it has continued to believe in the basic intelligibility of creation and in the basic capacity of the human mind to understand what is revealed in creation. Although the Catholic tradition, like others, has taken seriously the “human condition” limited by human nature and damaged by human sin, it had never thought that humans are either limited or so injured and incapacitated that they cannot learn (however partially) about the universe and about humanity itself” (Farley, p.4). This statement sends me the message that nobody should be singled out, or discriminated against, or underestimated just because of what ethnicity they are and what religion they participate in. This picture is the perfect example of making sure that everyone is given an equal opportunity despite our differences.

Farley, Margaret A. “Wisdom, Dignity, and Justice: Higher Education as a Work of Mercy.” Web. 29 Mar. 2016.

This is a photo I took at my cousin Natalie’s wedding over the weekend. This is a picture of Natalie and her brand new husband Ben kissing after feeding each other their first piece of wedding cake at their reception! This photo upholds the dignity of Natalie and Ben because it demonstrates the adamant love that they have for each other. When I revealed this photo to Natalie later on that night at her reception, she began to cry and said thank you. She was so happy that I was able to capture such an intimate moment between her and Ben on their special night. Leaving their wedding that night, I had such an amazing feeling with the knowledge of knowing that I was able to uphold Natalie and Ben’s dignity within such a special picture.

Photos Undermining Human Dignity

These images undermine human dignity in countless ways. The people in the picture on the right are in a state of crisis. Their surroundings are filthy and it appears as though they are being abruptly disrespected by this photo being taken. Their privacy is being violated. Most of these people probably had no idea that their picture was being taken and would most likely not choose to allow this photo to be seen. This picture reminds me of the article Photographic License we read for class discussing the picture on the left that was taken of Dorothea Lange and her family making them appear very poor and unfortunate. Dorothea was most upset about the fact that the media marked her face as the poster child for the unfortunate, when her family was not nearly as unfortunate as they thought (Dunn, 2002). The money that was supposed to be sent to Dorothea and her family due to this picture reaching the public did not make it to her family because they had already pulled themselves together and moved on out of the conditions shown in this picture (Dunn, 2002). In result, the money that Dorothea’s family was supposed to receive went to the people who lived around their previous residence resulting in zero benefit for Dorothea and her family (Dunn, 2002).

Dunn, Geoffrey. “Photographic License.” New Times. 2002. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.

 

This photo undermines the dignity of the child that is being carried. This photo takes me back to the picture shown in class of the little boy who drown in the lake and his family captured in photo almost directly after the incident happened. The little boy and his family in the picture from class had their privacy violated and dignity undermined because the picture could have sent the message to the public that the little boys parents were irresponsible since they were present in the lake with him when the drowning happened. The family does not deserve to suffer from that pain on top of grieving the loss of their son. That little boy’s family most likely would not have granted permission for that photo to be published if permission was asked. I believe that this child’s family would not grant permission for this photo to be published either due to the limp, lifeless state that the child is in. This photo violates the privacy and respect of this child’s body in contrast to the picture taken at the lake that violated the little boy’s body and his family in that tragic, horrific moment of their child’s death.

Cyberbullying, Anti-Social Communication, and Communication Ethics

• Cyberbullying serves to destroy the dignity of others through communication in countless outrageous ways. Cyberbullying causes drastic lowering of self esteem and the feeling of self worth, which also destroys one’s human dignity. When one is bullied, they begin to believe that they are worthless and begin to think that they are not worthy enough for anyone or anything. Targets of cyberbullying can become depressed, sad, angry, frustrated, which begins to take a toll on those emotionally and physically. In absolute worst case scenarios, targets of cyberbullying obtain suicidal thoughts and sometimes end up committing suicide. Victims of cyberbullying usually end up stop going to school due to embarrassment, shame, and fear (Hinduja, 2014). In my opinion, cyberbullying is formulated through those who have low self esteem and a lack of human dignity themselves. Cyberbullying can be formulated between two people or a group of people who may have never even met each other. Too often, we judge people by how they look and by first impressions without genuinely getting to those people. In Ethics with a Heart, there is a restaurant example discussing how when one goes to a restaurant, sometimes one fails to think before one acts (Weston, 2002). When one treats their server as though their presence does not matter, one is sending a message saying you are not important enough for me to even acknowledge, yet thank you for waiting on me. When we are rude and disrespectful to others whom we do not even know, in such situations like these, we are destroying one’s human dignity from the start. Upholding the dignity of others simply requires kindness and thoughtfulness. Others tend to be so wrapped up in their own lives and own misery that they do not pay attention to how they treat others. There is a segment in Dialogical Perspectives toward Communication Ethics which states “Dialogical perspectives for evaluating communication ethics focus on the attitudes toward each other held by the participants in a communication transaction” (Johannesen, 6th Ed.). This statement emphasizes how important our attitudes towards others are in relation to upholding and destroying human dignity. In conclusion, those who are guilty of cyberbullying desire the feeling of power and control over others, when they should realistically be focusing on how to restore their own personal lack of human dignity.

Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. W. (2014). Cyberbullying: Identification, Prevention, and Response.

Weston, A. (2002). A practical companion to ethics, (2nd Ed.). NY: Oxford University Press.

Johannesen, R.L., Valde, K.S., & Whedbee, K.E. Ethics in human communication. (6th Ed.). Long Grove, IL: Waveland.

• Words and how we use them to communicate is crucial. Positive words formulate the upholding and maintaining of the dignity of others. Cyberbullying damages one’s human dignity. Once the importance of this issue is realized and spread upon people further and further around the world over time, the positivity of words will be spread due to the absence of negativity. Positive words spread love and more importantly kindness and happiness.

 

Gender Violence, Oppression, and One Billion Rising Campaign

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• Women oppression embodies destroying the dignity of others. Upholding the dignity of others requires showing respect towards others. We must care for one another and we must respect one another. Dignity is strengthened by kindness, generosity, and random acts of kindness. Oppressed women have their dignity destroyed each and every day, as they are abused and tormented and treated disrespectfully. These women are treated like they are dense bodies lacking any emotion and feeling, as though they don’t matter. Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof expressed how a little help can transform the lives of women and girls abroad (Kristof, 2009). They undertake an odyssey through Africa and Asia to meet extraordinary women who are struggling there, including a Cambodian teenager who was sold into sex slavery and an Ethiopian woman who suffered devastating injuries in childbirth (Kristof, 2009). These storied help us see that the key to economic progress lies in unleashing women’s potential (Kristof, 2009). The end of women oppression would surely be a wonderful start to empowering the dignity of women around the world who are suffering greatly. Both Half the Sky and the declaration of Universal Human Rights discuss locations and express examples of women oppression occurring around the world. Most importantly, they discuss empowering and productive ways to slowly but surely improve the negative world wide impact women oppression has made. Restoring the dignity of others occurs one individual at a time, or in this case, one woman at a time. All is takes is one person to show these oppressed women that yes, they do matter and they are worthy of obtaining every ounce of human dignity possible.

Half the Sky by by Nicholas D. Kristof, Sheryl WuDunn: Summary and reviews. (n.d.).Retrieved February 21, 2016, from https://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm/book_number/2345/half-the-sky#about

UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights: United for Human Rights. (n.d.).Retrieved February 21, 2016, from http://www.humanrights.com/what-are-human-rights/universal-declaration-of-human-rights.html

• The One Billion Rising campaign serves as a vehicle of communication to restore dignity to others by standing against sexual violence committed towards women throughout the world. Every February through March 8th, thousands of individuals take place in hundreds of countries across the world and within local communities to show the world what one billion looks like, and shines a light on the outragious injustices that survivors of various forms of violence face. People around the world rise through dance to express rage against these injustices, and the power of global solidarity and collective action. They dance to express joy and community and celebrate the fact that together, violence can be defeated. They rise to show determination in order to create a new kind of consciousness, one where violence will be resisted until it is unthinkable (“The 2016 Campaign“, 2016).

The 2016 Campaign – One Billion Rising Revolution. (2016).Retrieved February 21, 2016, from http://www.onebillionrising.org/about/campaign/

• I commit to improve my communication in order to restore the dignity to oppressed women in my corner of the world by listening intently and fully in order to ensure that each and every individual who has an encounter with me feels appreciated, listened to, and most importantly, feels as though their dignity is respected and empowered by me.

 

My Small Act of Kindness

“I commit to refraining from interrupting others when they are speaking at least a couple times a week in order to maintain the dignity go others in my corner of the world.”

• In order to maintain my small act of kindness, I will:
  • Pay attention and listen intently to my family and peers when they are speaking, and ensure they have concluded expressing their thoughts before I give my opinions and insights about the conversation being discussed.
  • Maintain awareness about the topic being discussed. I tend to zone out and allow other’s words to go in one ear and straight out the other. This usually occurs when I am having an inadequate day, resulting in multiple thoughts racing through my mind at once constantly. I tend to have a hard time listening to what others are saying, causing me to veer off from the topic at hand, and begin talking about what is on my mind at that moment. This can be extremely confusing to others and viewed as disrespectful, considering my lack of recognition I give to what they are saying. I will strive to refrain from allowing my personal issues to interfere and cause distraction from my communication and conversations with others.
  • My small act of kindness will strengthen my dignity as a person, and strengthen the dignity of others. This increase of dignity will occur in result of positive reflected appraisal given to myself personally by me, and the respect I will display towards others will cause an increase in positivity regarding their reflected appraisals given to themselves. My small act of kindness will allow me to be viewed as someone who sincerely values the importance of listening to one another and expressing wholehearted respect for interactions encountered. In result of the positive image being created for myself by others through my actions, I will feel liberated knowing that I accomplished something by successfully gaining the respect of others. I strive to be known as a person who sincerely cares for others and listens intently to what others convey.

Destroying and Upholding Human Dignity

“I believe individuals use communication to undermine or destroy human dignity when:

• One puts others down emotionally and psychologically, by calling them stupid or worthless.
• One posts negatively on social media (such as Facebook) about someone to embarrass them or undermine their dignity.
• One preys on those with low self-esteem and pushes them around in order to feel liberated and to increase their own self-esteem. Those who prey on others with low self-esteem, have the lowest self-esteem of all.

“Three specific ways that I, personally, can use communication to uphold, repair, maintain, or restore dignity to others in my corner of the world are to:

• Be understanding of others and respect various opinions.
• Help out those in need through non-verbal communication, such as strengthening one’s emotional stability.
• Be positive and support others in order to bring up their spirits and make them feel good about themselves.

Human Dignity

Human Dignity is one’s self worth. We are all born into this world with self worth and human dignity. Dignity is one’s inherit value and worth, and is in one’s DNA. Therefore, one’s dignity is infinite and priceless. We strengthen our dignity when helping others because we tend to feel liberated about ourselves, as if we have accomplished something. When we honor others dignity, we strengthen our own. One gains knowledge and wisdom when helping others. One’s eyes are opened to unfamiliar views and understandings. One learns about the struggles and victimization others face. We begin to put ourselves in their shoes and attempt to imagine how those people must feel and think. Dignity turns into anger and resentment when our dignity is disrespected an violated (Hicks, 2013). Physical and psychological wounds show up in the same part of the brain. The brain knows no difference between physical wounds and psychological wounds to one’s dignity and self worth (Hicks, 2013).

Hicks, D. (2013, April 4). Declare Dignity: Donna Hicks at TEDxStormont. Retrieved     February 01, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPF7QspiLqM#t=27