Being Left-Handed

Not long ago, being left-handed was frowned upon, even condemned and punished. In fact, it was not that long ago at all. My aunt Silvia often recalls how, back in the 1950s, her elementary school teacher would strike her with a ruler or put her in detention in an effort to make her switch hands, because it was not considered acceptable to be anything other than right-handed.

It was ignorance and cruelty, as often happens with what is different or minority. That rural teacher from a small town in Pinar del Río did not understand that difference is not an affectation and that repressing it is harmful. Her unjust behavior left my aunt with a hidden trauma and forced her to become ambidextrous. While being ambidextrous is not inherently negative, the path that led her there certainly was.

Research has shown that such repressive attitudes can hinder coordination and delay learning.

Being left-handed is an impulse. Studies indicate that handedness has a strong genetic component. It is likely, then, that my aunt’s left-handedness is hereditary, as is my sister’s. This suggests that in my Cabezas family there is an imprint in our DNA favoring the use of the left hand, because such a pattern of coincidence is unlikely.

This inclination originates in the brain. It is the brain that issues the commands that govern our bodies, and we simply follow them. That is why repressing such an ability is an aberration, especially when it has a high probability of being a biological manifestation, a way in which the nervous system organizes itself.

Because the world is largely built by right-handed people, left-handers have historically been stigmatized and regarded as inferior. The church condemned them and perpetuated discrimination, and superstitious myths persisted for many years. Fortunately, humanity evolved, aided by free thought and science, to recognize that being left-handed is not an error, nor is it a flaw or defect.

Among the many negative claims was the notion that the brain of a left-handed person does not function in the same way. Experts, however, note that the difference is minimal. The same is true of the belief that left-handers fail to properly develop skills or face cardiovascular problems. Both assumptions are false.

It is true that daily life is designed for right-handed people. Left-handers adapt, but often not without discomfort. For instance, it is rare to find desks, scissors or can openers designed for them, and it is common for them to smudge their hands while writing. This can generate complexes and frustrations, particularly in childhood, although later in life many find ways to adapt and even learn to handle a computer mouse with ease.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff