The Unseen History of Right-Hand Domination: Why U.S. Society Once Outlawed Left-Handedness
Do you truly believe in the existence of a monolithic ldquo;US societyrdquo;? There never has been, and there still isnrsquo;t. Different cultures, especially those supplying early American settlements, taught all children to write with their right hand. ldquo;Don’t be different Johnny!rdquo; was a phrase used to enforce conformity.
Right-Hand Bias: A History of Discrimination
Despite my left-handedness, I have never faced prohibition or ridicule from any social event in my lifetime. Herersquo;s the reality: for much of history, societies have prohibited left-handedness due to superstitious beliefs that rendered left-handed individuals as bad or inferior. In some cultures, left-handed people were considered thieves, liars, or even witches simply because of their hand preference.
The attitude toward left-handedness is deeply rooted in a cultural and psychological phenomenon: the belief that ldquo;different is bad.rdquo; In a world dominated by right-handers, left-handed individuals often appeared odd. This unfamiliarity and immediate judgment can lead to prejudice. Just as rural Americans might initially be wary of people of color, society at large was wary of left-handers. However, this prejudice can only be overcome through direct interaction and observation over time.
The Early American Experience
One of the earliest instances of left-handed discrimination occurred during the formation of early American societies, where certain cultures insisted on teaching children to write with their right hand. This one-size-fits-all approach aimed to promote conformity, emphasizing the belief that left-handedness was a deviation from the norm and thus undesirable.
During the 20th century, this bias continued to manifest in various aspects of society. For example, in the 1950s, I was a first-grade student at a parochial school, where the nuns required me to sit on my hand or put it in my pocket whenever I wrote or ate. This requirement was due to my left-handedness. Despite being clearly left-handed since before pre-school, the nuns insisted I write using my right hand. This confusion at age five would have lasting effects on my handwriting, as I still write poorly with my right hand to avoid any ldquo;sinisterrdquo; connotations in the eyes of the 1950s Catholic church.
Historical Prejudices and Superstitions
The Latin word ldquo;sinisterrdquo; is directly related to the left-hand side, and since ancient times, the ldquo;leftrdquo; has been considered evil. The Romans held left-handed people in contempt, deeming them as inferior and somehow cursed. This belief is a stark example of how left-handedness was viewed in a disapproving, even discriminatory, light.
The history of right-handed bias is a tale of prejudice, superstition, and societal norms that have evolved over time. While progress has been made, the legacy of these beliefs continues to influence our attitudes towards left-handedness. Understanding the historical context can help us appreciate the current strides towards inclusivity and the ongoing work to dismantle outdated biases.
Tags: #right-handedness #left-handed bias #historical discrimination