CARLY RIEGGER
  • Home
  • About
  • Gallery
    • BFA Work >
      • Study Abroad Italia
    • Post-Baccalaureate Work >
      • Inside Their Studio Published Book
      • What's in My Petri Dish?
      • Solo Exhibition
      • Suffering the Silence
      • Silent Stories Exhibition
      • Press Pause Exhibition
  • Shop
  • Contact
Living With Chronic Pain ​Blog

Archives

April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
June 2020
April 2020
March 2020
December 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019

I'm a gimp

10/18/2019

0 Comments

 
A few days ago, I was on my way to a local coffee shop to meet a friend.  This place is a little piece of diversity from this town, and I always feel comfortable here--except for the other day.  I walked up with my cane to the register, ready to order.  Just before I got there, an older man who was leaving the register pointed at my body and cane and said, "You gotta gimp?"  I was so taken aback; I didn't know what to say.  I didn't respond.  He said again, "You gotta gimp? What happened?"  Again with this question that is actually meant: Please reveal your personal medical information.  I hate it.  Nothing "happened" to me.  There was no "incident" between when you saw me with a cane and the next day with a wheelchair.  It's appalling to me that even the older generation will publicly point people out and use slang.  I have never understood why others will choose to do this.  I personally have never looked at someone of difference to me and publicly point and ask them personal information.  Young people can have canes and disabilities, too; it does not just have to be the elderly.  When people do this, I feel ashamed, self-conscious, unwelcome and unwanted in our society.  

Definitions of Gimp:
1) a derogatory term for someone that is disabled or has a medical problem that results in physical impairment.
      BUT IT ALSO MEANS:
2) An insult implying that someone is incompetent, stupid, etc. Can also be used to imply that the person is uncool or can't/won't do what everyone else is doing.

So this is where more of the problem lies.  This language is a double edged sword--It is pointing out my disability in a negative way, being said publicly, and then it implies that I'm incompetent.  Whether it was their intention or not it's just plain insulting.  Able-bodied folks, take note of things not to say to people with disabilities.  
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About
  • Gallery
    • BFA Work >
      • Study Abroad Italia
    • Post-Baccalaureate Work >
      • Inside Their Studio Published Book
      • What's in My Petri Dish?
      • Solo Exhibition
      • Suffering the Silence
      • Silent Stories Exhibition
      • Press Pause Exhibition
  • Shop
  • Contact