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The Badger Herald

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The Badger Herald

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Distinguished Lecture Series speaker says struggle may be one way to forge new identity

Andrew Solomon illustrated identification confusions of LGBTQ+, disabled community
Distinguished+Lecture+Series+speaker+says+struggle+may+be+one+way+to+forge+new+identity
Maggie Forman

The Wisconsin Union Directorate kicked off the semester’s first Distinguished Lecture Series Wednesday with a talk on how identities form struggles and how unique parents’ love is.

The event, entitled “How Our Identities Emerge From Our Struggles: A Talk About Love,” featured Andrew Solomon, a professor of clinical psychology at Columbia University Medical Center. Solomon is also a writer, psychologist on politics and culture and a LGBTQ+ rights and mental illness advocate.

In the lecture, Solomon spoke about the two types of identities: the vertical one passed down by our parents, such as race, and the horizontal one, in which parents struggle with accepting the cultural differences between generations.

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Solomon said his personal identification as a gay man empowered him to research various types of identities including people with mental illness, physical disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

https://badgerherald.com/news/2015/10/16/john-waters-talks-dirty-in-distinguished-lecture-series/

After interviewing those struggling with identification confusion, Solomon and his partner decided to experience the journey of raising children. He addressed the possibility of his children having a disability.

“If it becomes his identity, it will become my identity too,” Solomon said.

https://badgerherald.com/news/2015/11/23/uw-professor-urges-exploration-shares-discoveries-as-distinguished-lecturer/

Using an example of the case study on Clinton Brown, a man born with dwarfism, Solomon highlighted Brown’s ability to enjoy life even when faced with the adversities of his disability. 

Having undergone 30 surgeries to cope with his physical disabilities, Solomon said Brown was still able to be passionate about his school work. Not only is he a first-generation college student, Solomon said, but he has joy in a life that was deemed “pointless” by doctors.

When Brown’s mother was asked how she was able to deal with her son’s disability, Solomon said she found the answer to be simple.

Solomon said Brown’s mother responded with, “I loved him, that’s all.”

https://badgerherald.com/news/2016/11/16/for-nasa-commander-breaking-glass-ceiling-meant-aiming-for-outer-space/

On the other hand, Solomon had a different experience in raising his son. Instead of having to accept his son’s identity, Solomon struggled to accept his own.

Solomon said his mother always told him how the love for a child is unlike any other love. Even though he always wanted children of his own, Solomon was not sure he would ever have them because of his sexuality.

Despite his doubts, he said he now has a wonderful family of his own.

“I am a different parent because I thought it would never happen for me,” Solomon said.

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