Intersectionality and the Disabled Body

Julia McGrath

El 4080-WB1: Extraordinary Bodies Disability in Literature

Professor Torrell

22 November 2018

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Intersectionality and the disabled body portray identity crisis on anyone who is physically disabled while promoting "unpleasant" distinctiveness. Kenny Fries' poem "Beauty and Variations" is a sectioned poem that shows off different eras of the authors life and identity crisis. This essay shows a crossover between intersectionality and promotion of disability as the author of the poem broadcasts their insecurity with their identity because of societal belief. However, toward the end, they promote the beauty within disability as his flaw is what makes him unique from everyone else.

Kimberlé Crenshaw gives the full definition of intersectionality and why it is important in Claire's Sister Outrider blog article "Intersectionality – a Definition, History, and Guide" by saying that the term "is a framework designated to explore the dynamic between co-existing identities (e.g. woman, black) and connected systems of oppression (e.g. patriarchy, white supremacy" (1). This word goes into disability studies because many authors and writers within the field share struggles, growth, and both sides of toil and endeavors through identity of their persona and body as a whole and societal views. The poem "Beauty and Variations" by Kenny Fries portrays insecurity and promotion of disability.

The first part of the poem, "Excavation" explains Fries experience with being a reject because of his deformity. He writes, "three toes on each foot, / freak, midget, three-toed bastard, / disabled, crippled, deformed" (lines 2, 7, and 9). The author looks back at his childhood verbal trauma. He relives what society and the medical field have referred to him as. This goes into Crenshaw's article about intersectionality because the author has his own identity while balancing what identity has been forced on him because of society. Disability is portrayed because those who have a defect are undermined and considered inferior. Society fears to have a physical flaw so these words that were thrown at the narrator elevate and promote societal normality while not allowing the disabled to be their own person.

The second part of the poem shows the author in a relationship and how they feel about it. The quote says that "I want to break your bones. Make them so they look like mine. Force you to walk on twisted legs" (Fries, lines 50-53). The author wants their romantic partner to switch places with them and feel his pain. If the partner feel the pang that the author struggles with then the author will feel empowerment. It is not about love but reversing roles. It is metaphorical because the narrator knows that if his/her partner were disabled then the lover would look at him/her differently. This goes into Crenshaw's research of intersectionality because the author wants a "normal" person to feel his nuisance of having twisted legs. Would the author truly love his own lover if the partner were to be disabled? It is taking a co-existing problem and switching the roles out of insecurity and anger to make the author feel better about their disability. However, disability is promoted here because if the lover were to feel the pain and struggle of something out of the author's control they would love out of personality rather than superficial beauty.

The third part of the poem shows disconnection. The author writes "with no flaws on your skin---how can I find your heart?, / My hands would leave you scarred, / I want to tear your skin, reach inside you---your secrets tightly held" (lines 60-61 and 64-66). The author is focused on physical flaws because society deems him as "ugly", so he looks for a problem with their partner. They do not see anything wrong with their lover and wonders why the love chose him. This goes into intersectionality because touching the partner would scar and deform them. Since there are no physical imperfections the author wants to go skin deep and find out their lovers secrets to use against them. This goes into disability because the author is trying to deflect their insecurities onto the lover to make them feel better. However, the author fears that there is no inter-connection and feels that if they are alike with a personal struggle that they will be together.

Lastly, at the end of the poem, the author moves away from intersectionality and embraces his three toes and twisted legs. The author says "...despite the flaws I wear, I am beautiful" (line 101). The author promotes disability by accepting that they are different and that their physical defect does not mean that the "able-bodied" do not have physical insecurities. The author is only beautiful if they believe so and find their beauty. Beauty is different. Finding inner confidence and believing in ability and worth will steer him away from co-existing identities. Projecting insecurities onto others does not help others find identity, it just creates inner-hatred and the author was only promoting what society would do to anyone considered different.

Intersectionality and the disabled body show conflict with someone's identity and their battle with insecurities of never being good enough and not being loved because of being different. Kenny Fries poem "Beauty and Variations" narrates the authors life in different limelight. The author is insecure because of the stereotypes given by society, then as they get older, feel that their loved one will never appreciate them because of not having a physical flaw. The author had begun to question their lovers true intentions. Lastly, they had confidence in their unique beauty. The author promoted his disability by motioning to the point that beauty is confidence.

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Works Cited

Claire. Crenshaw, Kimberlé. "Intersectionality." July 27, 2016. https://bboldwestbury.sln.suny.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-394081-dt-content-rid- 1917847_1/courses/201809-OLD-EL-4080-WBL/intersectionality.pdf

Fries, Kenny. "Staring Back The Disability Experience from the Inside Out." Beauty and Variations. A Plume Book, 1997.