International Lefthanders Day | August 13

They were sitting behind a desk that didn’t feel right and wondering why their notebooks and palms had so many ink stains.

Even the very act of writing was uncomfortable as spiral-bound notebooks dug into their palm.

It’s estimated that about one in 10 people are left-handed.

Living as a minority in a world that just isn’t designed for you is challenging. Add to all that the discrimination they face, and it gets exhausting.

International Lefthanders Day, which comes up on August 13 every year, celebrates left-handedness while highlighting these challenges.

Keep reading to learn how this holiday began and get tips on how to join the celebration. Plus, you’ll learn new fun facts about left-handed people.

History of International Lefthanders Day

Left-handed people have been facing discrimination for a long time. Back in the Middle Ages, they were called evil and often accused of witchcraft.

Over time, attitudes towards lefties began to change, but their struggles were far from over.

If you’re right-handed, you might not realize how much the world is built to make you comfortable.

Most products are made with only right-handed people in mind. So, left-handed people struggle to use scissors, can openers, and school desks.

Imagine for a moment what it’s like to perform everyday tasks with your non-dominant hand. It doesn’t sound so comfortable, right?

Yet many left-handed people have no choice but to make this change just to fit in.

For these reasons and more, Dean R. Campbell began International Lefthanders Day 48 years ago on August 13, 1976.

It quickly became an annual celebration of the uniqueness of being left-handed. Additionally, this celebration helped raise awareness about the challenges left-handed people face.

In 1990, 14 years after the first Lefthanders Day, Campbell formed the Lefthanders Club. Two years after its formation, the club officially endorsed the International Left Lefthanders Day celebrations.

Spread the word online.

International Lefthanders Day is the perfect day to talk about the experience of being left-handed.

If you’re not left-handed, you can do some research or lend your voice by sharing articles like this and information about International Lefthanders Day on social media.

Play the lefthanders game.

For lefties, this game is a breeze. For everyone else, the rules to this game are still simple: retire your right hand for a day and let your left hand do all the work.

The goal of this game is to give righties a glimpse of how left-handed people feel when they are forced to use their right hands every day.

Advocate for left-handed products.

Thankfully, you can now find products made for left-handed people in stores. Ask your workplace or school to provide modified notebooks, scissors, computer mice, and desks for left-handed people.

This is just one step in helping them feel more comfortable in a largely right-handed world.