Topic: Left-handedness in sports.

Purpose: Reflects a cultural shift towards acceptance of lefties, and greater inclusion of marginalized groups.

Thesis Statement: The shift in cultural acceptance of left-handedness during the 1970s is apparent because of how persecution has been removed from schooling environments, and how individuals now condition themselves to use their left hand, most notably due to how it is seen as an advantage in athletic careers.

Introduction

Hook: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Monica Abbott–these are some of the greatest left-handed baseball and softball players of all time. And you know what name could have been up there with them? Ann Ehrlich, if it hadn’t been for my lack of trying.

But I am naturally a righty, so how does this work? There has been a shift in baseball and softball and sports all together to alter hand dominance for an advantage. This is in direct contrast to punishments that had formerly been inflicted upon lefties until the 1970s. If I had followed my youth softball coach’s advice to practice batting left-handed, you could be looking at a starter on Penn State’s softball team right now instead of an unrostered bullpen catcher. However, many athletes have taken this advice.

Body

Main Idea: Expectations and living conditions before the shift resulted in harm towards lefties.

  • Many educational systems forced lefties to use their right hand.
    • Resulted in learning challenges, including mirrored writing.
  • Examples of how it was presented in literature and language.
    • “The Prevention and Correction of Left-Handedness in Children” by J.W. Conway in 1935.

Main Idea: A shift occurred in research and public opinion, recognizing the advantages of left-handedness.

  • International Left-Handers Day emerged in 1976.
    • Emphasized the talents of lefties.
    • Annually recognized; graphics released to highlight famous lefties.
    • Shift from shameful about left-handedness to describing it as a “superpower.”
  • Studies suggesting that left-handedness is genetic.
    • Courtesy of NIH.

Main Idea: Lefties are a now commodity in many sports.

  • Boxing
    • Example: “Rocky” movie highlights a lefty boxer.
  • Fencing
    • Left-handed players find more success in higher-ranking competition.
  • Baseball/softball
    • Example: Christian Yelich.
    • Slapping skill in softball and recruitment.
    • Many righty throwers are coached to hit left-handed for the advantage.
    • Statistics on lefty pitchers in baseball, including the timing they benefit from and position toward first base for pick-offs.

Conclusion

Concluding Remark: Left-handedness is no longer viewed as sinful or a disability, but rather a secret talent to have as an athlete. In fact, righties are even trying to develop this “skill.” No longer are lefties punished for their hand dominance, but instead they are idolized.

 

Visuals

  1. Opening examples of lefty softball and baseball players
  2. Example of mirrored writing
  3. Excerpts from pamphlets about “fixing” left-handedness
  4. Advertisements released for International Left-Handers Day (“superpower” ad)
  5. “Rocky” license plate (“SOTHPAW”)
  6. Fencing graphic
  7. Baseball player pictures
  8. Softball slapping graphic
  9. Graph of statistics on lefty pitchers