In The Glass Menagerie, Amanda Wingfield does not allow either Tom or Laura herself to call Laura “crippled.” At one point, she tells Laura that she is not crippled. She merely has “a little defect,” and it is “hardly noticeable.” Yet this is not the case either.

Tom knows it well. He reminds Amanda that she shouldn't “expect too much from Laura.” He and Amanda hardly notice Laura's disability anymore, but that doesn't change the fact that she has struggles. Amanda lashes out, telling Tom that she does not allow that word to be used. Tom replies that Amanda must “face facts.” Laura is painfully shy and has a limp.

Amanda does not want to admit that there is anything wrong with her daughter. She wants to believe that Laura is just fine, like all the other girls, except for just “a little defect.” Amanda has an image in her mind of what she wants Laura to be, and when Laura doesn't match up to that image, she won't recognize it. She will not accept Laura for who she is and help her cope with her disability. Rather, she tries to mold her daughter into what she wants.

This is actually quite selfish, perhaps not intentionally so, but selfish nonetheless. Amanda is focused on herself and her desires rather than on Laura and her needs.