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Left-Handedness—A Pride Needed To Be Hoisted

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It is quite astounding that one group of people who have suffered millennia of prejudice are left-handers. Across the globe, it is mortifying that measures, mostly brutal, have been employed to suppress such a disposition which is deemed unfit and does not go in tandem with set norms.

Well, such decisions were tolerable centuries ago due to the lack of scientific analysis coupled with the churning of outrageous dogma which has been accentuated by religious, societal and cultural bigotry. In the 21st century, I am much enthused by how far people can go to correct a disease, of which a causative agent is unknown.


I am not writing to question the positions of organised religions and societies’ quest to regulate lifestyles for the betterment of the society at large. But it is wholly absurd to try to coerce people who are left handed to change to the other hand. To exacerbate the situation, many people ascribe the right hand to good and the left to evil thus leaving no room for tolerance for left-handers.

It is very evident that left-handers pass through numerous problems making life unbearable. From the classrooms where desks are designed for the right handed to the computer mouse, scissors, watches, cars and most common tools left handers are faced with discrimination. Thus they are forced to adapt to the situation so as to fit into the society. These they do to enormous physical and psychological disadvantage.

Science through series of researches has explicated reasons based on genetics why some people are born left-handed thus debunking the notion that it is an acquired trait which must be suppressed. It is understood that through the formation of the brain of a foetus, certain natural processes take place to determine the handedness of a child. Thus a child cannot be inculpated for being left-handed.


It is quite astounding that one group of people who have suffered millennia of prejudice are left-handers. Across the globe, it is mortifying that measures, mostly brutal, have been employed to suppress such a disposition which is deemed unfit and does not go in tandem with set norms.

Well, such decisions were tolerable centuries ago due to the lack of scientific analysis coupled with the churning of outrageous dogma which has been accentuated by religious, societal and cultural bigotry. In the 21st century, I am much enthused by how far people can go to correct a disease, of which a causative agent is unknown.

I am not writing to question the positions of organised religions and societies’ quest to regulate lifestyles for the betterment of the society at large. But it is wholly absurd to try to coerce people who are left handed to change to the other hand. To exacerbate the situation, many people ascribe the right hand to good and the left to evil thus leaving no room for tolerance for left-handers.

It is very evident that left-handers pass through numerous problems making life unbearable. From the classrooms where desks are designed for the right handed to the computer mouse, scissors, watches, cars and most common tools left handers are faced with discrimination. Thus they are forced to adapt to the situation so as to fit into the society. These they do to enormous physical and psychological disadvantage.

Science through series of researches has explicated reasons based on genetics why some people are born left-handed thus debunking the notion that it is an acquired trait which must be suppressed. It is understood that through the formation of the brain of a foetus, certain natural processes take place to determine the handedness of a child. Thus a child cannot be inculpated for being left-handed.

The month of August is used to celebrate Left-Handedness

Attitudes are much encouraging in the West in terms of tolerance towards left-handedness. A laudable step which was taken several years ago has propelled left-handers to dominate the political, social, entertainment and scientific spheres of life. In the United States four of the recent six presidents were all left-handers; Obama, Clinton, Bush Snr and Gerald Ford. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nyatenahu and Britain’s David Cameron are both lefties.

Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs are not left out whiles not forgetting the numerous winners of the Nobel Prize. Renowned scientists like Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein also have their names on the list. This proves the assertion that left-handers are on the average a better option for creativity and logical reasoning compared to their right handed counterparts.

Moreover, since left-handers are forced to adapt basic tools meant for the right hand, it inculcates some level of ambidexterity in them. Thus a lefty can use both hands quite well. One’s handedness should not be determined by religious, societal or family factors but left to the monopoly of natural phenomena. A child must not be punished for being a left-hand.

In my opinion, it is damaging to the psychological well-being of the child. If Ghanaians and Africans in general emulate such a stance and harness the potentials of such people, we will be a better people.

Giving birth to a left-handed child or being should not be a provenance of trepidation which should evoke an untenable force to correct them. It should be a motivation to inspire them to greater heights as major breakthroughs in the world were spearheaded by them.

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