Jessica PingNormalizing Mobility Aids in Industries That Exclude The Disabled Narrative Is Imperative In Our Fight For Equal Rights
A ~ Behind the Scenes ~ look into why I made the following TikTok video
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The Inspiration
This “What I’d Wear” trend has been circulating my For You page on TikTok for quite some time. Most of the videos I see using this sound are of young adults in cosplay pretending to be characters from their favorites tv shows, books, and movies.
I love the artistry that goes into these videos and decided to twist the trend to fit my niche: disability advocacy.
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How many disabled models can you name? Disabled actors? Business owners? Beauty gurus? Musicians?
I bet it’s less than 5.
You know how many disabled models, actors, business owners, influencers, and musicians there actually are?
Thousands.
Maybe even millions.
The point is, they are out there in the world, they just aren’t getting the attention they deserve.
I think it’s time we change that.
The Video
At the beginning of the video, I am shown standing in my everyday clothes. Above me, you can see the text, “What’d I’d wear if I were on the cover of.” Seconds later, text that reads “disabled model edition” flies onto the screen.
From there, I literally jump into my first outfit: a gorgeous navy blue pantsuit from Dress Barn, a chunky, ankle cut, heeled boot, and my manual wheelchair.
This is meant to represent what I’d look like if I were modeling for the cover of Harper’s Bazaar.
My outfit then instantly morphs into a pair of stylish blue jean shorts, a shiny golden/white long-sleeved crop top, blue slip-on tennis shoes, and my prosthetic leg.
Do I look like a cosmo girl yet?
Flash forward a few seconds and BOOM, another outfit change. This time, I am wearing a mid-length, black, velvet dress from Express, a black, sparkly, mesh jacket, also from Express, and a short high-heeled sandal all while sitting in my portable, electric wheelchair.
Elle wasn’t ready for this look.
Finally, I end the video dressed in a long, vintage, maroon, velvet dress, and a flat, black, decorative sandal.
🎶”Come on, Vogue! Let your body move to the music”🎶
My Personal History With Mobility Aids and Photographs
Up until last fall, I hardly ever let my picture be taken sitting down. Part of the reasoning was my aversion to showing off my stomach rolls. I’ve always struggled with body image, and if I had nothing to block my tummy from view, I was guaranteed to be self-conscious.
The bigger and more problematic reason I avoided these types of photos, though, was my aversion to my mobility aids. I didn’t like the idea of “looking disabled.” There is such a stigma surrounding wheelchairs, crutches, canes, and prosthetics, not to mention bulkier medical equipment, that it’s hard for people who require these devices to not feel ashamed of needing them.
This self-hatred is made worse, and possibly even partially driven, by the severe lack of disabled bodies present in any and all industries.
Growing up, I never saw a wheelchair-user on children’s shows. The books we read in class never had disabled characters. I never learned about any disabled historical figures or scientists (they do exist). Even today, many companies and brands would rather work with non-disabled influencers and content creators over someone like me.
Writing has always been one of my strengths and social media has fascinated me since MySpace was a thing (yes, I am that old). But, until recently, I didn’t know of anyone with a disability succeeding in either of these industries.
It’s because no one is talking about it! Literally, no one besides disabled people are talking about disability rights.
Why?
Because we are easily forgotten about.
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In school, most children with disabilities are shoved off into the “special” learning environment, never to interact with a non-disabled person again. Places all around the world, yes, even in the United States where the ADA exists, are still inaccessible. The media never tells our story, just their own inspirational version of it.
Essentially, the disabled community is, as the saying goes, out of sight, and out of mind.
Though I have been luckier than others with similar impairments to my own, I still feel marginalized by society daily.
This marginalization is what led me to feel embarrassed of my own body.
It’s called systemic ableism, friends, and we are not a fan.
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The Power of Normalizing Mobility Aids in Creative Industries
Obviously, a lot of work needs to be done in many different sectors across the board. But, if the disabled community has any chance of making mass social change, they need the immediate support of the creative industries.
This includes the fashion, beauty, entertainment, music, and visual art industries.
Why these areas instead of science or politics, the most arguably obvious first choices upon first thought.
If the last 5 months have taught me anything it’s this: science and politics are too divisive. It’s unfortunate that science is up for debate and even more frustrating that basic human rights are so deeply upsetting to some people in our society, but they are and are, therefore, not the proper starting points for change.
The creative industries listed above, however, are perfect.
I took a class on celebrity culture in college. It was one of my favorites and taught me soooooo much on the way our society works.
You see, all of the industries above create influence. It’s why a single album has the power to define an entire generation and how every trend in fashion has begun.
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These industries pave the way for change. They are singlehandedly what drives our beliefs and understandings of the world around us.
To be taken seriously, we need representation. If we want representation, then we need the support of the above industries. The first step in getting their support is by showing them that mobility aids are tools, not hindrances. That they are not only normal, but sexy, and essential.
Normalizing Mobility Aids will not be easy, but it is a major hurdle that needs to be crossed before we can dream of an equal world.
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