You may or may not have heard the term
“Inspiration Porn.” It is defined as any meme, video or feel-good article that sensationalizes people
with disabilities. It was coined by the late
social justice activist Stella Young in 2012, when she wrote an article titled “We’re Not Here
for Your Inspiration.” She
writes: “Let me be clear about the intent of this inspiration porn; It’s there
so that non-disabled people can put their worries into perspective…It’s there
so that non-disabled people can look at us and think ‘well, it could be worse…
I could be that person.’” It objectifies disabled people for the sake of
non-disabled people.
A
common caption to these images is a Scott Hamilton quote, “The only disability in life is a bad
attitude.” The images are meant to motivate; If these people can live with just
one leg,” for example, “I can do so much more without a disability.” It
comforts us. But it also incorrectly assumes that disability can actually be
overcome with a smile and a little bit of determination.
Once, when I was still on forearm crutches, I
visited a friend that lived in an apartment situated at the top of a steep
flight of stairs. As we were leaving, my husband helped me down the stairs and
went to get the car. I waited on the sidewalk and saw a woman rushing down her
own set of stairs. She seemed to be coming straight at me. And she was. She
said something along the lines of, “I just watched you climb down those stairs
and I think I have seen you here before.’ I’m thinking, okay Adam hurry up.
Then she said, “I think it’s great that you get out. I just wanted to tell you
that.” I thanked her and Adam pulled up and that was the end of it. But that
experience stuck with me. I know she had good intentions but I wonder if she
knew she actually made me feel a little small. I impressed her because I lived
life with a disability. I visited a friend. If you took my crutches out of the
situation, would she have approached me? No.
The reality is that
disability is a social experience. The disabled population is not just here to
inspire you. We aren’t people doing extraordinary things. We are living life.
Watch Stella Young’s Ted Talk here.
Sorry, but that was inspirational. 😄
ReplyDeleteHits the nail on the head.
ReplyDeleteI like this one very much Rachel.
ReplyDeleteStella Young's Ted Talk nailed it. "No amount of smiling at a flight of stairs will turn it into a ramp." Society has a long way to go and that's just a piece of it.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for linking that article. I find it so frustrating when I try to tell someone about how frustrating my limitations are, and they say they're going through the same thing and understand. Yeah, forgetting a few words when you're tired or have mild memory issues with age AREN'T the same thing as having a stroke at 26 and struggling to find the right word you're thinking about or not being able to remember phone numbers, etc. to the extent that you have to carry around a smart phone just so you can look up your own own phone numbers because you forgot, again. My fine motor skill problems that are permanent complications from the stroke paralysis that I fought very hard to overcome with physical therapy isn't the same as your occasional issue with a hard to open container, etc.
ReplyDeleteI also can't be the only person who wants to punch the next person in the throat who tells me that they shouldn't complain about their problems because they could be like me. Is that supposed to be helpful? It's as painful as having a family member who ought to know better call you a cripple when talking about you like you're not even in the room.
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