Grandin Amd Cofer

One of the most prevalent themes in today's society is overcoming obstacles. Throughout history, peoples have been discriminated against due to their race, culture, religious affiliation, disabilities and unfortunately the list goes on and on. Though prejudice has often revealed a lack of integrity, ethics, and morality, it has also given way to many capable persons, who through this idea of inequity, have risen above their circumstances and become more successful, able and strong-minded. Two ideal modern day examples are Judith Ortiz Cofer, a poet and novelist, and Temple Grandin, a designer of many livestock-handling facilities who earned a Ph.D. in animal science from the University of Illinois. Though both of these women have become very successful throughout their lives, they have, for as long as they can remember, had the cards stacked against them. Cofer, due to her Latin heritage has been stereotyped as an incompetent woman, who belongs as "a housemaid or a countergirl" (Cofer 58). Grandin, who was born with autism, has fought an ongoing battle to fit in and feel accepted. Though the lives of Judith Ortiz Cofer and Temple Grandin have undoubtedly been affected by a strong sense of prejudice and inequality, they have overcome these obstacles and in doing so, have flourished professionally and socially.

For Cofer and Grandin, avoidance was never an option. Their circumstances were unsubtle, allowing society to observe and state their negative opinions. Cofer, time and time again publicly dealt with men and women alike who either intentionally or unintentionally stereotyped her due to her Latin heritage. She recalls a trip to London in which a drunken man came up to her and "With both hands over his heart broke into and Irish tenor's rendition of 'Maria' from West Side Story" (56) Though she was a long way away from home, she realized that even with her being an educated woman, the stereotype of the Latin woman would follow her wherever she went. Another instance which Cofer referred to was her first poetry reading in Miami, where a woman attempted to order drinks from her; she mistakenly assumed that Cofer was a waitress. Grandin, like Cofer was often an instrument of public amusement. Having difficulty understanding certain concepts, she had trouble fitting in at high school with her fellow classmates. They called her "'workhorse,' 'tape recorder,' and 'bones'," because she was skinny (Grandin 210). With high school being a time of tremendous tension on who is socially acceptable, and who is not, a child with autism was an easy target for unnecessary and beleaguering jokes.

Despite the similarities between Cofer and Grandin, certain distinctions exist in the circumstances regarding the negative attention in which they each receive. Cofer has to overcome the obstacle of perception. Regardless of how qualified, able, or intelligent she is, there will always be the stereotypical person, who as previously mentioned, will either intentionally or unintentionally assume she is like all other Latina woman. Grandin's obstacle is a more physical one. Unlike Cofer, who is stereotyped due to her appearance, Grandin is stereotyped by her words, actions and overall demeanor. Though