In Gwynnyth Llewelyn’s article, “Chapter 3 -Discrimination and the Health of People with Intellectual Disabilities” she notes the public surveys of people who were discriminated or harassed because they have intellectual/mental disabilities and how it effected them physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This article is a part of the International Review of Research in Development Disabilities.

Society and it’s people show that they would rather have people who are “different” be relocated to somewhere faraway from the community. They do this by physically (such as bullying, assaulting, etc.) and verbally (such as slandering and hateful satires) harassing the intellectual handicapped because of discuss or, in some rare unfortunate cases, for their own enjoyment. “Members of the public that hold strong negative beliefs are more likely to avoid, ridicule, harass, abuse, bully, or in extreme perpetuate violent crimes against people with intellectual disabilities” (Llewelyn 4.1).

In “Of Mice and Men”, the handicapped character, Lennie was picked on and attacked by another character to the point where he was manhunted to be killed.

Another effect prejudice can have on the intellectually disabled is that it can hurt the person more mentally. What it means that since they’re already struggling with thinking and learning, ill-will can add the challenge of fear and anxiety over their everyday struggles.

An example is like how a certain character would figuratively speak to his thoughts and find comforts in small odd things

Emotionally kind of adds more to mentally how discrimination can affect a person, who has more difficulty living with society, more deeply. A person with an intellectual or mental disability has more trouble expressing one’s self in a true, positive way. If someone sends hate to a struggling person, there’s a chance that hate may return to you, meaning that person would only know how to respond with that same hurt.

A form of this is in the story of how Lennie was in fisticuffs with the lead worker. Not knowing what to do, the person who he only trusts was telling him to fight back, causing that same conflict to inflict on the other person

Lastly, a way that someone can change due to hate is spiritually. They then question themselves of “What is my purpose?” or “Why must I suffer?”. In some cases they tend to distance themselves or disappear from society because of peace for them and others because of the disdain for themselves.

In Of Mice and Men, Lennie often questions about if he should go somewhere far away and alone so that his only friend can have a fulfilling life.

Although the book is fiction and is set in the early 20th century, conflicts between the mentally disabled and the community as a whole still exist to this day, along with the stigmas and satires. They are taken advantage of simply because they don’t know any better and are easy prey to society. What we can do as individuals is to try to help however we can by encouraging or doing simple tasks for them. We must remember that we are all human, with all our burdens and struggles, and we must learn to be sympathetic and empathetic to those that have it more difficult than us.

Works Cited:

Llewellyn, Gwynnyth, “Chapter Three - Discrimination and the Health of People with Intellectual Disabilities”, International Review of Research in Development Disabilities, Elsevier, 10/4/15, sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S22116095150000068#!
Accessed August 29, 2011

Steinbeck, John, “Of Mice and Men”, ibook, Penguin Random House LLC, 1994