Over the last one hundred years, lefties in most of the world did not have to worry about being accused of witchcraft any longer. Unfortunately, they still were regarded as a problem that needed solving.
1900's-present
Early in the 1900's, and to lessening degrees through the middle of that century, left-handers were generally forced to write and eat right-handed. This was usually accomplished through physical force: removing the pencil from the left hand and slapping the palm with a ruler; sometimes tying the left arm down so it could not be used. Some people believed that left-handed children were just being stubborn and non-cooperative, if not dimwitted.
As the decades passed, more children were allowed to use their natural handedness without interference. Both at home and at school, attitudes changed for the better to support left-handers. This varied depending upon what country, or part of a country, one lived in, as well as the belief and influence of the teacher or parent. There are still people today who question whether they should "switch" their young lefty to make life easier for him or her. Happily, they are now advised to let the child be.
The medical field has continued to seek out the reasons for left-handedness. Since the 1950's, testing and research methods have become more advanced, and we are able to learn more about the brain and its organization.
- There has been much research to find a genetic cause for left-handedness.
- Further knowledge has come from "split-brain" testing, allowing research into the workings of the separate hemispheres.
- Stanley Coren, in his 1992 book "The Left-Hander Syndrome," came to the conclusion that left-handers have a shorter lifespan, primarily because of stress and injury coping with a right-hand oriented world. His methodology and results have been challenged in the years since publication. The book is actually quite informative, regardless of the validity of his theory.
Organizations for left-handers have been started, both to help fellow left-handers and to enjoy cameraderie.
- Left-handers International, which is now defunct, used to publish a magazine that featured stories for and about left-handers, and products for them. It read from the back cover to the front.
- At one time in the U.S., a group was started called the National League for Lefthanders. Its aim was to use social protest to get recognition for left-handers.
- Japan had, and may still have, the Japan Left-handers League, despite the cultural pressure against left-handers there.
- Currently, there exists a Left-handers Liberation Society, yet again with the motive of joining lefties together for their own good.
As time goes on, left-handers suffer less obstacles and stigma in most of North America and Western Europe. There are businesses which sell products tailored for the lefty. But, countries such as Japan and others still strongly discourage use of the left hand, especially for eating and writing. I hope the enlightened trend continues to spread throughout the world.
