commentr/StutterApril 17, 2021

Content

I'm a white woman so I can understand the "woman" part. The majority of stutterers I see are males and the only woman I can think of died over 50 years ago (Marilyn Monroe). 1. Representation matters. Everybody naturally (usually subconsciously) tends to find people who are like them to become friends with and to aspire to be. 2. Even if we may not like to admit it socially males and females TYPICALLY act differently w/ exceptions of course. Look at an elementary school playground. What are the majority of girls doing? Sitting on the monkey bars talking. What are the guys doing? Playing soccer or football or some other low-socially pressured sport. The talking needed to be included is "Can I play?" There's more pressure for the girls to act (and speak) right. A little proof in the fact that girls tend to be diagnosed w/ autism later in life bc, to socially survive, they need to mask their autism. It isn't as extreme in adult life but generally, women still have a lot of pressure socially and stuttering makes that even worse bc it makes us "imperfect" to other women and girls. Men still have this pressure but GENERALLY not as much. I realize this is a generalization and there are exceptions (hence me saying "generally" way too much) but this is what I tend to observe in my life.

Themes

Identity & DisabilityEmotional Experience

Subthemes

Identity & Self-PerceptionPublic Awareness / MediaAnxiety & Social Judgment