In her essay "Disability," Nancy Mairs addresses an audience of able-bodied individuals who often perceive disabled people as fundamentally different, viewing them as liabilities or isolated cases rather than as part of the broader human experience. Mairs attempts to bridge this gap by asserting, “In most ways I'm just like every other woman of my age, nationality, and socioeconomic background” (Mairs 4). This statement underscores her desire to highlight commonality and shared experiences, challenging the notion that she and others with disabilities exist outside of “normal” life. Furthermore, Mairs asserts that “to depict disabled people in the ordinary activities of daily life is to admit that there is something ordinary about disability …show more content…
In Nancy Mairs' essay "Disability," the audience is primarily educated, worldly individuals from America who place significant value on their cultural ethnicity. This is evident in her reflections on the desire for a deeper cultural connection, as seen in the quote, “I hoped that by marrying a man of Eastern European-Jewish descent I would acquire for my descendants the ethnic genes that my own forebears so sadly lacked.” This illustrates a longing for ethnic identity that many such readers might relate to, seeking to enrich their own lineage with culturally rich backgrounds. Furthermore, Mairs notes, “The more tradition-minded, the newly enthusiastic celebrants of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and the Winter Solstice, will be clucking sadly as they read this,” which underscores an awareness of those who firmly cling to cultural rituals and identities, potentially alienating those who feel …show more content…
Finally, Mairs concludes with a sense of pride, stating, “My chest swelled with pride, as my mother’s would have, to know that the race of ‘none’ marches on.” This reflects a recognition of a growing movement away from strictly defined ethnic identities, indicating a subtle critique of the tendency to place too much value on cultural heritage. Together, these quotes underscore a tension between the desire for cultural connection and the emerging identity of those who may reject narrow definitions of ethnicity, appealing to an audience that navigates this complex landscape of cultural significance. In Nancy Mairs' essay "Disability," the intended audience appears to be educated, worldly Americans who place significant value on cultural