Cultivate Inclusive Audience Awareness
Your audience is full of people with life experiences than yours
I started to read the book, Ladyparts, by Deborah Copaken a few months ago. I really enjoyed it at first. It seemed like the kind of feminist memoir thing I usually enjoy.
Then, Copaken started to share the origins of her divorce. She described her ex-husband as unthoughtful and rude — only thinking about himself rather than considering her needs or the expectations of polite society. Initially, I rolled my eyes in sympathy. He seemed like a real piece of work!
As her description went on, though, I got an uneasy feeling.
In a marriage counseling session, Copaken describes the biggest challenge in her relationship as “empathy.” Or rather, her husband’s lack thereof. Ooof. Here it comes. She writes:
“Alas empathy, we will soon find out — a key ingredient in mature love if not the key ingredient — is beyond the capabilities of the man I chose to marry. As in literally, neurologically beyond them.”
Yep, her husband receives an autism diagnosis.
I kept reading for a bit… but it only got worse. Copaken unflinchingly described what was “wrong” with her ex-husband. She lamented his…
