An Analysis Of Chris Bell's I M Not The Man I Used To Be

Chris Bell’s I’m Not the Man I Used to Be (2009) generates many connections between mainstream cultures and how society views the minority in this regard. What I have taken from the relation Bell constructs between HIV, non-disclosure laws, and disability is the “loss” of personhood. Those who are HIV-positive – like Bell – are consequently marginalized into a category of similar standing to those with disability. Laws can be implemented and even forced upon the individual, but the relationship between the two is both an individual and political decision. In addressing disability, I believe that HIV can be seen as a disability to the individual, or it cannot. What is common between the two is the need for someone else’s aid. However, it is

The barriers stopping one from achieving right to sexuality are often a result of their lack of political agency, and vice versa.

For example, many disabled individuals are infantilized and denied the right to make decisions for themselves. Such a barrier to political agency at such a high level thus filters down to deny individuals the sexual rights and sexuality itself. Similarly, throughout history women have been denied equal political rights thus also were, and often still are, denied rights to sexuality.

To flip this around, Sanger argued that denial of sexual agency, namely access to birth control for women, goes forth to deny women of their political agency at a higher level. Denial of sexual rights and sexual agency is a source of political power for a chosen few and an oppressive force in society. I agree with Sanger, and that allowing relieving individuals of their oppression (giving women access to birth control) would be a "remedy for a myriad of social problems." In this example, women would choose when to become mothers and be granted their rights to sexuality. Such rights and control imply that they are more likely to be better mothers, rather than being disabled by their pregnancy via poverty, access to health care,

Sexual agency would eliminate the source of disability in the first place and there would be no further need for other types of oppression and normative groups would lose political power.

Sexual agency and political agency are undeniably and eternally linked. The sexual rights is a question of political agency. The main barrier to sexual agency that I am trying to get at is that sexual rights/agency is a source of political power in today's society. The need for political power are the barrier to achieving "equal" sexual rights for all individuals.

The society is actually forcing homosexuals to hide their sexuality until a later age than a heterosexual couple is disgraceful. I can agree that society makes homosexuals be ashamed of their sexuality with these laws, something that needs to be addressed. Of course a person could feel a lack of not only personhood, but sexual identity with these laws that are criminalizing gay sex in a roundabout way. Although I'm sure these laws are not always followed, but they are an political issue that needs to be addressed and solved, along with acceptance of homosexual and disabled