Being left handed

[miss_mimsy]

One thing that has been part of my Mills Education is the idea of power, privilege, class, and where I fit in and how I can be an ally. This has led me down some very frustrating roads. I think one of the reasons is because no one discusses one challenge I live with everyday and it bugs me that it doesn't matter.

Comments

[princeofwands]

Preach it, Sistah!

I was lucky enough to not be forced to write right-handed, but they insisted on teaching me to throw right-armed. I've hit a really odd mix, I use fine utensils left handed (writing, jewelry, eating, knifework, dental, etc) but favor my right arm (clumsily) for heavier tools (carpentry, power tools, most sports). I think it was a revelation in 6th grade or so PE that I wasn't just an uncoordinated idiot, but that I'd been using my off-hand for sports. I spent a while trying to adapt to consistently left handed but sucked even more at that.

Another annoying example is that I havea very strong preference for a left handed computer desk setup, but spent much of my early career doing hands-on training and coaching in clients' view or over their shoulder and it was such a hassle to switch between left and right handed that I settled on just going right handed. I still do out of habit now even though I haven't had much call for that "on camera" adaptation for years. Ah well. Ubiquitous laptops and trackpads (and Apple's single-button standard) have helped that quite a bit. (But boy do I hate hate hate handed pointing devices.)

[miss_mimsy]

I use fine utensils left handed (writing, jewelry, eating, knifework, dental, etc) but favor my right arm (clumsily) for heavier tools (carpentry, power tools, most sports).

I am very similar. I throw a football and do most "sport" stuff with my right hand. However, when I was making chainmail or when I knit, I do it left handed.

And even though I know I "should" use a left-handed desk set up, I shared a workspace for so long, it feels awkward now, so I still have a right-handed mouse.