”I’m very open about my learning disability and I get the help I need at school, but out in the day to day world of living people don’t know I’m dyslexic unless I say something, and then I have this moment where I feel like I’m either making an excuse or over sharing.”

– Erica Cook (http://explore1in5.org/blog/in-the-real-world/)

The concept of oversharing has both supported and complicated the lives of adolescents and adults with dyslexia.

The term oversharing, when used critically, provides an added layer of shame that can bar adolescents and adults with dyslexia from advocating for their needs.

Alternately, the popularity of oversharing, of the personal confessional, has provided a forum for adolescents and adults with dyslexia to build community around a shared experience.

In my paper I will explore how this duality of oversharing affects adolescents and adults with dyslexia by critically analyzing YouTube confessional videos and blog posts. I will support my analysis with literature from the realm of disability studies, educational psychology and sociology. I will be looking closely at the concepts of identity construction, labeling, stigma and “passing” as it relates to dyslexia and oversharing.

I’ll leave you with one of the videos I found interesting. In this video, Haleigh Birdie casually talks about dyslexia and anxiety as she puts on makeup.

“Some people consider it as a learning disability. I don’t really consider it a learning disability. I just kind of think of it as a different way of processing, a different way of thinking. “ – Haleigh Birdie

— Melissa


Comments

3 Comments so far

  1. John Paul Varacalli on April 9, 2015 10:02 pm

    I’m not sure if this advice is relevant, but I think that your paper must not only posit a connection between dyslexia and oversharing but also focus on a ‘range of reactions’ (both positive and negative) that people have to the dyslexic oversharer(s) in question.

  2. Melissa Boronkas on April 11, 2015 8:57 am

    Thanks John Paul! I am also looking closely at the comments section on the videos as well.

  3. Carrie Hintz on April 14, 2015 12:26 pm

    Melissa, this is a wonderful topic. I look forward to seeing it develop…the video was really fascinating. Carrie

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