47 pages • 1-hour read
Deenie
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Background
Literary Context: Young Adult Social Problem Novels
Historically speaking, the 1960s and 1970s are considered the golden age of adolescent literature in the Western world. As society grew increasingly aware of teenagerhood as a distinct social category, the market for media specifically geared toward teenagers expanded. Realistic fiction became a popular vehicle to tackle topics previously considered taboo, such as poverty, sexuality, pregnancy, and drugs. The “problem novel” (or “social problem novel”) is a literary subgenre that focuses on contemporary social issues depicted through a young protagonist’s experience, aiming to inform and entertain young readers.
Problem novels empower their intended readers by acknowledging their desire for independence while providing educational value about sensitive and intimate topics. Although the genre arguably emerged earlier, S. E. Hinton’s 1967 The Outsiders is often cited as a precursor of the wave of relatable adolescent fiction published in the 1970s US. Other significant examples of problem novels include J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye (1951), Beatrice Sparks’s Go Ask Alice (1971), and Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower (1999).
Blume’s novels are well-known examples of the problem novel genre popular in the 1970s, including her most famous book, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (1970), Forever… (1975), and many others. The author initially wrote Deenie after meeting a young girl living with scoliosis, and notes that the teenager “seemed to be adjusting well to her condition and her brace, but her mother was in tears over the situation” (157), which inspired the characters of Deenie and Thelma. In the novel, she touches on topics that both reflect and inform adolescent experiences, such as ableism, body image, menstruation, and masturbation.
Several of Blume’s novels have been challenged or banned from American schools and libraries over the years, including Forever…, Blubber, and Tiger Eyes. Deenie is included on the American Library Association’s Top 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of the 1990s. On the subject of censorship, Blume comments: “[When I began to write] I felt only that I had to write the most honest books I could. It never occurred to me, at the time, that what I was writing was controversial. Much of it grew out of my own feelings and concerns when I was young” (“Judy Blume Talks About Censorship.” JudyBlume.com). Blume has been a prominent anti-censorship voice throughout her career, and she has significantly impacted the American cultural legacy by inspiring generations of authors and artists.
Sociomedical Context: Perceptions of Illness and Disability in the 1970s
The 1970s marked a shift in cultural perceptions of disability that, in turn, impacted the way artists and authors explore topics like illness and disability. Before the 1960s, illness and disability were mainly viewed through the lens of what scholars call the medical model of disability. In short, cultural conceptions of disability placed the onus of disability on individuals living with disability, which resulted in heavy stigmatization and exclusion from public life.
The 1960s, however, saw the emergence of the social model of disability, which was then popularized through the disability rights movement of the 1970s. The social model focuses instead on the ideological and institutional barriers that limit the societal participation of individuals with disabilities. Disability rights organizations began to advocate for the development of physical access and social inclusion in all aspects of public life. This resulted in increasing public awareness of disability as well as a wave of new legal protections for disabled people.
Published in 1973, Deenie is informed by the growing need for representation of people with disabilities in adolescent literature of the time. Additionally, the problem novel genre, which typically focuses on relevant social topics, is an effective way to educate younger readers about the experiences of individuals who, like Deenie, experience stigmatization due to their conditions. Deenie herself narrates the novel, providing a first-hand account of her emotional struggles as well as the practical impact of her disability. The story also explores different attitudes around disability by including examples of support and accommodation as well as ableist prejudice. Deenie, for instance, is very critical of people with disabilities and initially experiences fear, disgust, and shame around characters like Old Lady Murray, Barbara Curtis, and Gena Courtney. On the other hand, the narrative also depicts some of the teachers’ efforts to accommodate Deenie in class, reflecting a growing social awareness of accessibility issues.
It is important to note that although some of the language the author uses to describe Deenie’s experience may be considered offensive for contemporary readers, it reflects the accepted norms of 1970s society. The novel includes offensive terms like “handicapped,” “deformed,” and “cripple.” Preferred phrases to describe an individual with a medical impairment include person-first language, like “person with a disability/chronic illness.” When discussing the cultural impact of Blume’s novel, readers should therefore ensure they are aware of the sociohistorical context in which Deenie was originally published.
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