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capri0mni(Cross-posting; this is what I wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
disability, last night):
It occurred to me recently that the whole use of "Crutch" as a derogatory term belies how many people assume we're all faking our disabilities: "I bet they could walk if they really tried; they're just too lazy to carry their own weight.
Compare that with Ladders as a metaphor: climbing the ladder of business success.
And really, crutches are more like ladders than they are not: both are tools to help us get higher than we're capable of, under own own power: ladders help us surmount a steep barrier, and crutches help us get our noses out of the mud. They even kind of look the same, if you think of the hand grip as a rung.
And here are some further thoughts I've written as replies in discussion:
(Further on the idea of ladder as something positive, even though "climbing the corporate ladder" is often used to criticize someone's brutal ambition):
Yes, in that sense, "climbing the corporate ladder" is often talked about in a negative way, but there's also often an air of admiration about it, at the same time-- of the person's energy, ambition, cleverness, and so forth. And even when someone is criticizing the climber, it's never the ladder that's seen as the negative thing, in the same way that crutches are.
(In response to the point that most people think of crutches as temporary, to be used only while an injury heals):
What bothers me is that whether or not the need for crutches is permanent or temporary doesn't matter.
Casting them in a negative light belies the bias that the crutch-user's judgement of their own abilities is not to be trusted, and the Able-bodied Authority (or even stranger) has the right (and duty) to chastise and "reeducate" them.
(The idea that just came to me, about how I can help change things):
I'm going start referring to them as "hand ladders" (like handsaw, or hand drill):
"Excuse me, could you help? My hand ladder fell over, and I can't reach it."
"Your what?"
"My crutch -- you know -- my hand ladder." And roll my eyes as if it were obvious.
It could be quite fun spreading a little linguistic chaos that way. ;-)
disability, last night):It occurred to me recently that the whole use of "Crutch" as a derogatory term belies how many people assume we're all faking our disabilities: "I bet they could walk if they really tried; they're just too lazy to carry their own weight.
Compare that with Ladders as a metaphor: climbing the ladder of business success.
And really, crutches are more like ladders than they are not: both are tools to help us get higher than we're capable of, under own own power: ladders help us surmount a steep barrier, and crutches help us get our noses out of the mud. They even kind of look the same, if you think of the hand grip as a rung.
And here are some further thoughts I've written as replies in discussion:
(Further on the idea of ladder as something positive, even though "climbing the corporate ladder" is often used to criticize someone's brutal ambition):
Yes, in that sense, "climbing the corporate ladder" is often talked about in a negative way, but there's also often an air of admiration about it, at the same time-- of the person's energy, ambition, cleverness, and so forth. And even when someone is criticizing the climber, it's never the ladder that's seen as the negative thing, in the same way that crutches are.
(In response to the point that most people think of crutches as temporary, to be used only while an injury heals):
What bothers me is that whether or not the need for crutches is permanent or temporary doesn't matter.
Casting them in a negative light belies the bias that the crutch-user's judgement of their own abilities is not to be trusted, and the Able-bodied Authority (or even stranger) has the right (and duty) to chastise and "reeducate" them.
(The idea that just came to me, about how I can help change things):
I'm going start referring to them as "hand ladders" (like handsaw, or hand drill):
"Excuse me, could you help? My hand ladder fell over, and I can't reach it."
"Your what?"
"My crutch -- you know -- my hand ladder." And roll my eyes as if it were obvious.
It could be quite fun spreading a little linguistic chaos that way. ;-)
no subject
Date: 2011-12-21 01:07 am (UTC)"Your what?"
"My crutch -- you know -- my hand ladder." And roll my eyes as if it were obvious.
It could be quite fun spreading a little linguistic chaos that way. ;-)
You are brilliant.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-21 02:18 am (UTC)I'm also thinking of this as a tee-shirt design (with either a cane or crutch motif):
"I have a shin-whacking clue stick. Do not make me use it."
no subject
Date: 2011-12-21 02:36 am (UTC)I think it's supposed to refer to malingering, where someone who has a temporary injury or disability is taking a long time to get over it. But the very idea of malingering is... suspicious? Is it synonymous with Munchausen syndrome or something? Because otherwise, who would want to use a crutch longer than they have to, when recovering from a temporary injury? If they're still using it, chances are they need to use it, and again the accusation of malingering is offensive.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-21 03:13 am (UTC)She suggests "training wheels" as a substitute.
the accusation of malingering is offensive
Yup indeedy!