Today I interviewed my manager from back home (I work at Gap, Inc. in the mall). I've noticed that when he writes at work he always uses his left hand, but our system on our computers/register is made for right handed people (all of the buttons to press are on the right side of the computer rather than the left), so I was curious as to how he deals with things like this, and what other obstacles he faces throughout the day. So here's my interview:
Q. You are left handed, correct?
A. Yes, I'm left handed.
Q. How many of your family members are left handed? What is their relation to you?
A. My Brother is left handed and my Father was left handed before going through Catholic school. They made him right handed.
Q. Do you know if your son is a righty or a lefty (I don't know if he's too young to tell yet)?
A. My son, who is three years old is right handed. I could tell fairly early. He just seemed to favor it. Throwing, reaching for things, etc.
Q. What is your wife's dominant hand?
A. My wife is right handed.
Q. In a world made mostly for right handed people, what are some every day tasks that are hard to accomplish?
A. Actually writing in a spiral notebook has always been difficult. I have to turn the notebook sideways and I write away from myself instead of right to left. I've tried left handed notebooks has well. Must be how I hold the pen, I guess. Using power tools is an adventure at times as well, especially circular saws. Hard to see where your measurements are because there on the other side of blade.
Q. Is there something that used to be hard to do, but you've learned to use your right hand so it's not as hard anymore?
A. Not really. I use my right hand for many things.
Q. Do you use your right hand often?
A. Everyday. I use it for everything but writing and drawing! But I taught myself to draw with my right hand while I was in college. I was afraid I would lose my left arm in a car accident for some reason. *Don't ask me. Ha But my right hand is my dominant hand to use tools, throw, cut with a knife etc.
I think this is interesting because I never would use my left hand if I didn't have to--but left handed people are forced to use their right hand on a daily basis. He's learned to do most everyday things with his right hand (non dominant hand) because he has to. I never would have tried using my non dominant hand if not for this project. I just find it interesting. I suppose this does give them an advantage though--if they were to break there arm/hand (like, in a car accident for instance haha! Don't ask, he's a crazy guy), then they wouldn't have a huge problem switching to their non dominant hand. I suppose that in some ways, most left people are probably considered ambidextrous.
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