Borderlands of Blindness by Beth Omansky (review)

Borderlands of Blindness is a well-written, well-researched study about the experience of being partially sighted, the metaphorical borderland referring to the state between complete sight and complete blindness. The book’s author, Beth Omansky, is legally blind and seeks to explore the borderland through what she calls “emancipatory disability research principles and postmodern theories” (8). She cites her own experiences and the oral histories of three other partially sighted individuals—Larry, Catherine, and J. R.—and uses a variety of other sources, such as statistical data and disabilities studies research. It is an exemplary model of how oral history can be used in cooperation with other sources and research methods to produce a well-rounded narrative.

One of the greatest strengths of Borderlands is that it manages to be both technical and profound without feeling dry and cryptic. Omansky delves into philosophical matters, medical and disability issues, and social and cultural concerns—and she manages to do all of this in clear, engaging language that makes the material accessible to any audience. Another factor that makes this book accessible is its straightforward structure, a function of its being so well organized. Omansky’s conclusions, which appear at the end of each chapter and effectively summarize its contents, are especially helpful.

In terms of being an oral history–focused book, Omansky does her due diligence by carefully explaining her method—not just how she conducted her research but why she sees an oral history methodology, and specifically life history interviews by an insider, as the best approach. Those with knowledge of oral history will appreciate Omansky’s attention to detail and her transparency; those who are not familiar with oral history may find that this book can serve as a model from which they can gain a basic understanding of oral history. Omansky does justice to the discipline without overwhelming the reader with jargon or extensive theoretical questions.

The book opens with a glimpse into Omansky’s own story as she narrates a recent experience with a blind simulation activity, a dinner that was served in a pitch black dining room so that guests could not see their food, their wait staff, or their fellow diners. The author details the conversations and revelations that came about because of that experience. She assesses the evening by saying, “In retrospect, I enjoyed the food, company, poetry and the music. But the evening left me wondering: what did participants learn about blindness? It heartened me to find people interested in trying out blindness. But I wondered if sitting in the dark for two hours teaches a sighted person as much about blindness as, perhaps, playing a game of monopoly teaches you about the experience of being Donald Trump” (3). This serves as an introduction to the blindness that Omanksy and the other individuals in the book live with—that is, being legally blind but not living in complete darkness. It is certainly an effective introduction.

However, for the rest of the book, Omansky’s voice, while not necessarily lost, is muddled. She discusses being an insider researcher and the decision to include her own story, as well as issues such as countertransference and the importance of keeping the concepts of insider and outsider identities fluid. But as she weaves her own story in with the rest of her narrators’ stories, she leaves some significant gaps. Does her narrative come from the transcript of a life history interview, as the others do? If so, who conducted the interview? What was the experience of being interviewed as part of her own research like? If Omansky’s personal excerpt is first-person writing (as it seems to be, based on its structure and articulation), as opposed to oral history, how does this change the narrative? Although otherwise fastidious about explaining her methods and reasoning, one thing that was unclear in Omansky’s book was the nature of her own narrative, which is a significant lapse.

At its core Borderlands is an attempt to...