Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Does Being Male Qualify As a Disability?

I'm sure many feminists think so, but until now, there's not been much to support such a claim. But with the latest version of the Americans with Disabilities Act going into effect, at least one attorney is pondering the possibility.

Men, he argues, have a greater susceptibility to certain diseases, a shorter life expectancy and a testosterone level that predisposes them to more aggressive behavior -- all factors that could be classified as a disability.

"A good-faith argument could be made -- and I predict it eventually will be made -- that being male would meet the broadest definition of disability," said (attorney Louis) Solomon.

Who can argue with a guy trying to jump on the disability bandwagon? Back when the ADA was first signed into law, those of us with disabled loved ones were excited. Accommodations for handicaps were few and far between in 1991. Maybe two parking spaces at the mall, a single sliding door entrance on the opposite side. And getting a handicap placard for your car was almost not worth the trouble. Now, amusement parks have seas of handicap parking spaces and just about everyone seems to be able to claim a disability. Why not maleness?