The greatest insistence that I can somehow power through my disability comes from the people that claim that my brain would simply work if capitalism was eradicated. CW/TW: Ableist language, eugenics I don’t know who decided that “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” was an accurate or effective description of what ADHD does to a person, but...
Category: Ableism
Bipolar Disorder Is Demonized In The Coverage Of A Bollywood Star’s Death
People with bipolar disorder must not only cope with the challenges of the illness but also the stigma and discrimination in an ableist society. By Suryatapa Mukherjee CW: suicide, ableism Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput passed away in June of this year at the age of 34, shocking all of India and plunging millions of...
Inspiration, Mourning, and Ableism: How Do We Properly Honor Chadwick Boseman?
Chadwick Boseman did not yield. But he deserved a world that would’ve let him yield. He deserved a world that would’ve loved him if he did. “I never yielded! And as you can see: I am not dead.“ Chadwick Boseman died on the evening of August 28th but never yielded. It crushed so many that...
Symbolism as Fake Progress, and the Underwhelming Legacy of the ADA
The ADA encourages disabled people to feel safe in the workforce and beyond, but in reality it only serves to give them the opportunity to be exploited just like everyone else.
The Coronavirus Is Putting The Failings of Ableism and Individualism on Full Display
The spread of the Coronavirus is exposing how selfish our society is by highlighting our hypocrisy where ableism is concerned. About a week ago, I started the process of shopping for my brand new apartment a day after signing a lease… solo. I was so giddy about moving up in the world that concerns over...
Disabled And In Love With Me: The Ableds’ Worst Nightmare
I am not blithely grateful for poor treatment and I won’t accept the bare-minimum of accessibility and inclusion. My love for myself is revolutionary. This essay contains discussions of ableism and self-harm By Imani Barbarin I was 10 when I first came across the concept of inspiration porn. I didn’t know what to call it,...
Frida Kahlo Was a Communist, So Stop Capitalizing Off Her Likeness
Frida isn’t a commodity, she was a person who fought against materialistic consumerism. As someone who has spent almost 20 years studying the life and art of Frida Kahlo, I’ve mused for hours over what her doll version would look. Here’s the Frida doll I’ve imagined: Since she spent so much time in a wheelchair...
Why Living with Chronic Illness in a Capitalist Society is Dehumanizing
I’m not sure when the government will look at its disabled citizens and see us as people that deserve the same quality of life as everyone else. By Jazmine Joyner I have been disabled for nine years, and I have been unable to work a 9 to 5 job for four years. Like millions of...
Crazy Talk: Do I Disclose My Mental Illness to My Boss?
Welcome to Crazy Talk: a mental health advice column written by yours truly, a mentally ill and queer writer reclaiming his “crazy” to educate and empower. In a world that tries to push us to the margins, I’m all about getting loud and kicking the stigma where it hurts. In this column, we explore what...
OCD Isn’t a Cute Quirk, So Stop Trivializing It
OCD is as debilitating as any other mental illness. May is Mental Health Awareness month. As someone living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), I think this month is the perfect time to set people straight about what this disorder actually is, considering many people (and companies) seem to have no idea — we’re looking at...