podcast 1 - nf1, social constructionism and disabled bodies

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow along the nerves, resulting in various symptoms. The podcast discusses how social constructionism applies to this condition, as it believes that disability is not inherent but created by society. People with NF1 often face challenges due to lack of awareness from doctors and societal judgments. Social constructionism also looks at the impact of society's beauty standards on individuals with NF1 who may not meet these expectations. Media portrayal of NF1 has also perpetuated misinformation and stigma. While social constructionism highlights the need for societal change, it may overlook the medical aspects of disability. Hello everyone and welcome to my first podcast. In today's session we're going to be discussing social constructionism and the disabled body and how this specifically applies to neurofibromatosis type 1. Neurofibromatosis according to the NHS and Childhood Tumour Trust website is a genetic condition caused by mutations in the gene that controls a production of a protein called neurofibrin. This causes tumours to grow along the nerves and this can cause a multitude of symptoms. Neurofibromatosis has three forms being type 1, type 2 and thrombomatosis. Type 1 is the least severe of the three and most common with one in three thousand people being affected. Within this podcast I will be specifically discussing neurofibromatosis type 1 since I had this condition. Symptoms of NF1 can be as followed. Caffeololog marks known as birth marks, scoliosis, tumours, learning difficulties, bone deformities, migraines and many other symptoms. Everyone with NF1 can experience it and look differently from one another. This is discussed within a study called I have NF, NF does not have me and it looks at the struggles of having NF1 mentioning the lack of awareness from doctors, often having to explain what it is to professionals, feeling judged by others, social comparisons and the mental health impact this can have on them and this links to social constructionism due to social constructionists believing that one is not disabled but is disabled due to its environment and society and believes that disability is a social construct as stated by Chris Drew in Jones 1996 and this links to this study as society creates a barrier for people with NF type 1 as even doctors don't understand their condition so not only are they judged by their peers but doctors as well when wanting to receive treatment or help and this is discussed as well within Kurt Dudley Marling as they discuss social constructionism and learning disability. Learning disabilities emerge in the context of human relationships and this looks at how social constructionism believes that one does not have disabilities such as dyspraxia and dyslexia which can be caused by NF1 but blames society as society is not shaped and made to help those with conditions. Feminism and masculinity viewpoints would agree with social construction views on disabled bodies as for centuries society deems and changes what is acceptable for a body for men and women wanting women to be tall to thin to big to slim and for men to be buff and tall and people with NF type 1 aren't able to reach these body standards due to possibly having tumors of scoliosis or being small and this once again can cause mental health problems. Society creates that disability and barrier in life and can create judgment from others as people with disabilities and tumors are never going to be deemed as conventionally attractive once again showing that society is the problem not the medical condition. NF type 1 is also incorrectly shown within media it's demonstrated in an episode of Screen Queens season 2 episode 2 called warped and all where a patient with tumors is depicted as evil and disgusting and as like this horror character and it created quite a lot of misinformation about the condition making it seem fake but as well uproar and hurt within the community with petitions asking for it to be removed rightfully so once again showing that media doesn't want to depict that disability is a good thing but rather as a scare tactic showing that it's a problem. Overall social constructionism views on disability creates some interesting points on how society and environment can create disability and disadvantages and that it's a social construct. I see the positives within this mindset and it shows that society needs to change however it can also really take away from a disability and the issues people can suffer with due to this and I think that it can honestly be quite redundant to make disability a social construct rather than a medical problem. Thank you for listening to my podcast about neurofibromatosis type 1 and social constructionism.