Arceta, John Renzo

Boo, Dahee
Mejarito, Jerome
SA 21 - B

A Day in the Life: Blind Massage Therapists

1. Who is the identity you want to imitate? Why did you choose this identity?

Our group decided to step into the lives of blind massage therapists for our deviance day parade. We chose this identity because we felt that they are a part of our society that we are all aware of and therefore we thought that most people will feel familiar with the identity. We also chose them because it felt that doing so would give them a voice, or at least a chance to be noticed. Often at times when we’re in malls (or even airports), seeing them in the corner of the room, it becomes very easy for us to keep on moving (unless you’re looking for a massage). It’ so easy to get caught up with our own personal affairs that it becomes very easy for us to dismiss them as though they are simply part of the setting, like furniture carefully placed for our own convenience. Yes, it may sound cruel, but how often do we really give a good hard look at their lives and see them other than what they appear to be? To some it is even harder for them to be treated as equal individuals because of their disabilities. This is evident in the common comments we hear like: “kawawa naman sila”, or “magbigay ka naman”, “heto, bigay mo sa kanila.” Language like these are aimed toward the disabled and help in stigmatizing them for their disabilities. At times these remarks, sometimes said in good spirit, can be heard amongst the private conversations of passers-by. But it also says a lot about how our society views them. Comments like those give rise to the idea that  a great sum of us view define them for their disabilities (as also evident in the name of our chosen identity, the word blind is literally the first thing).These remarks are inappropiate at times since they serve a function in our society and are fairly self-sustaining. Clearly they are more than their disabilities. This is why we chose them as our identity, so that they may be noticed, and to prove to others, if not, to ourselves, that they are more than societies label of them as “disabled.”

2. What is your identity’s main function in the society?

Our identity can usually be  seen in malls, airports and other public places offering massages. Some even offer home services either as formal advertisement that can be seen in posters, signages, and the yellow pages (as seen as ads for spas that offer home services) others through word of mouth and personal connections.

3. How does he/she look like? (clothes, gears like cellphone if any?, skin, hairstyle, nails, physical appearance—observe everything!)

They dress up simply. When they are working, they wear plain t-shirt or polo shirt and jeans uniformly. Most of them wear dark sunglasses. We didn’t observe them using cellphones or other gadgets. We also observed that some that worked in spas wore a uniform similar to that of hospital scrubs.

4. How does he/she speak and behave? (SC and SI)

Their movement is very limited compared to those who can see. They typically don’t move around a lot. They move a bit slowly/carefully. When they are moving, they have to think of not only themselves but also other people walking near them. They reach out their hands to check if there are any obstacles. Walls and furnitures can help them detect locations and help them move but at the same time, it can be harder for them. If they are going to places where they are not familiar with, they need assistance. It is easy for other people to predict if they are blind or not based on their movement and behavior. What other people do is to not get in their way. After they perform the massage they usually stay at the back of the chair as to get out of the way of the customer. During the interview we observed that they spoke normally and was a bit hesitant. During the massage they spoke a bit soft, but otherwise normally.

5. How do they talk to people? How do they laugh? Any jokes that they know?

We observed that they limit conversation to asking the customer their comfort with the massage (e.g. “ok lang po ba?” “diinan pa?”). This kind of one sided conversation was observed even by the customers who only spoke with regards to the massage; we were unable to observe customers who were striking a conversation with the massage therapists that wasn’t about the massage they were having (with the exemption of us, who interviewed them). This is understandable since usually massages are expected to be these quiet, serene, relaxing activities. Enganging in conversation may appear counterproductive, not only to the customer engaging in the conversation but also to the others around them who are also getting massages. Perhaps this is also why it is so easy for us to dismiss them as the “disabled.” This ‘non-engagement’ with them makes it easier for us to distance ourselves from them and alienate them from us.

6. What are their beliefs in life? What are their values?

Not all of them were blind from the beginning. Some lost their sight when they were young. Even though they are used to it, they still need to depend on the help of others (usually family). Since they cannot do most things by themselves they (at least for the one that we interviewed) felt that they were becoming a burden to their family. She also said that’s why she decided to become a massage therapist, so that she can help her family out (“para kahit papano hindi lang yung asawa ko”). She said that even though it’s hard, she’s still happy (“kasi kahit papano nakakatulong ako sa iba.”). During the interview we also observed that she was humble (although a bit hesitant) and that she still thanks God for her life. When asked she said that she goes to church with her daughter on most sundays.

7. How does his or her day look like?

The masseuse that we interviewed said that her job usually starts when the mall opens (usually at 10 a.m. but they come in earlier than that) and ends when the mall closes (around 9 p.m.). However she said that after mall hours she sometimes has house calls. So she typically has longer work hours. Her co-workers also perform house calls. Some articles we found also say the same about this line of work. They usually put in long labour hours that equate to low income. However we didn’t ask how much she or her co-workers earned.

When we asked how they get to work, the masseuse that we interviewed said that her daughter usually accompanies her with the commute going to the mall. She also said that “pang-hapon naman pasok niya” (referring to her daughter). Going home usually involves the same process, her daughter picks her up again from the mall. Sometimes though her daughter has school projects so her other son (“yung panganay ko”) picks her up and takes her to the home of those that request for a massage (most of which was a network she established through word of mouth and personal connections). She also said that it used to be her husband who helped her with getting around, but can’t because “inaasikaso niya yung mga papeles niya.” He used to work for ARMSCOR (a gun factory). He recently got laid off along with many others. She also said that her husband has worked there for a very long time but has not yet been regularized. She said that now his husbands is trying to apply to this agency in order to be able to work abroad.

She also said that most of them there were like that (relying on family for help). She also added that one of her co-workers is usually picked up by his wife. This shows that they were married to individuals with no disabilities. We found this quite interesting, since this shows that sometimes disability isn’t enough of a hindrance to marriage. Although this made us want to compare our learnings from our Social Anthropology lectures and apply them to the couple. It seems burdensome to take on a relationship that involves someone who is blind (especially after all the theories and readings we went through about “love”), but yet relationships like these still exist. We didn’t push questions regarding the relationship though.

8. Any sociological+personal reflections? How did it feel being another person for a day

First of all, being a blind was really hard. We tried our best to close our eyes to get into the character but we kept on opening our eyes from time to time to check where we were walking or to see people’s reactions. It took really long to move from one place to another. And with the limited time, it was even harder to get into the character. It was embarrassing too to see other people staring at us and we thought that it could have been better for us if we were really blind so that we don’t have to feel ashamed. Whenever we moved, going down or up the stairs, changing directions, and even in getting our bags, we had to ask help from one of the members who was not blind. It was awkward, suffocating, and shall we say a “pain in the ass” with the limited time. It made us thankful that we were only acting that time and also made us respect not only blind people but also other people with disabilities who try their best to live their life and achieve something; it’s as though giving up on life for us is not one of the choices we should pick. One thing we learned more is to be humble and thankful for every little thing we have in life and to not be greedy for there are people out there who are still less fortunate than us (physically and financially) but who are still contented with their life. We also gained a better understanding of the effect of the “Sick Role” theory on the disabled. Trying to be blind made us uncomfortable since we were constantly worrying about accidentally hitting someone or tripping on an elevated area. This made us dependent on the group member we assigned as a guide and gave us a sense of inferiority when we could not perform a task which we normally consider simple. This made us realize how hard it must be for disabled people to perform activities which we consider routine, and how they must feel when others look down on them and see them as helpless.

We also learned a lot from the interview we conducted. Through the interview we learned that they were individuals not that different from anybody else. Yes, they were blind, but they moved past their own disabilities. They are fully realized individuals that have lives, loves, struggles, and families just like the rest of us. It’s refreshing to hear that despite their disability they manage to be able serve and function in society. When the masseuse said that “nakasanayan na” (regarding her lack of vision), this struck me as bit sad, but ultimately I think that it was very hopeful in the sense that she didn’t define herself in the context of her disability. Hearing about her struggles and relationships allowed us to view her as an individuals just like ourselves who go through the same things (although with the added difficulty of not being able to see). It ultimately broke our common perception of them (as disabled individuals) and allowed us to see them as equal, even if we aren’t completely the same.  

Most of the things we learned from Talcott Parsons’ The Sick Role are very applicable to our experiences and reflections. We usually see blind massage therapists, and to a broader extent, the disabled, as those that are defined by their being blind. It is so much easier for us to see them as individuals who are unable to see, rather than individuals who have noble sources of income, who are parents, and spouses, and simply as people.