So i'm in this feminist disabilities class and i'm learning so much. I'm learning how uncomfortable temporarily abled people (TAP) are with impairment. One of the major ways this has come out is through the language us TAP's use without even realizing that it's hurtful. In particular "lame" is a word that has lots of currency in a lot of settings and because it's lost it's referent i.e. people don't use it to mean someone who has difficulty walking/is unable to walk, it's bandied about without much regard for the populations that find it offensive. Other words that fall in this category include:
retarded
crazy
psycho
handicapped
rides the short bus
dumb
freak
schizo
stupid
lunatic
etc.
gyped (I didn't know this came from gypsy)
What's interesting is that the groups that are most affected by these words and phrases are made so invisible by society that the effects of these words are often never checked, and when they are it's not in a way that most people hear. Just think about how surprised the Black Eyed Peas were when they're was an immediate response from disability groups after the release of "Let's get Retarded" which was subsequently changed to "Let's get it Started." Hyphy music hasn't come under fire yet (I think) because not that many people have heard it.
So i'm trying to be more conscious of the words I use and it's hard. And this is of course is why feminists are regarded as uptight language police that destroy everything fun and playful within slang and vernacular (Isn't a "beater" more interesting than A-line tee or tank top?).
5 comments:
My 7th grade sunday school teacher used to flip put when anyone called anyone else "lame." She used much of the same reasoning that you do. I didn't start saying it 'til I got to SC cause so many of my friends said it. I know it's wrong. I have no tolerance for "fag" and there really is no difference. I need to check myself immediately. Thanks for the reminder!
congrats honey. and in honor of stating the obvious, mia c. mingus is a great reference for this class. she's done a tone of work on disability and feminism, queer disability and thee intersections between both communities, etc. i'm sure she'd love to build with you around this and other things...
when i took a disabilities studies class at spelman, the transformation of words was a big part of it - as well as the gender-izing, enthi-cizing, evangelizing, etc of disability. my how the worlds collide! now, i have a co-worker whose brother is autistic, and she loathes the word "retarded", so i avoid it. and you know what? it's doable. as a word-monger, i'm glad to learn a new one to replace it. so long as "wack" is cool, i'm in business! ;+)
oooh mojitos.
you know, if i followed your lead, i'd really never talk.
that said, i'll still try.
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