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Why the concept of person-first language is inherently ableist, from its inception:
If you have to go out of your way to remember and communicate that disabled folks are still PEOPLE, it means you're constantly aware of, but just trying to reject, our dehumanization.
If you have to go out of your way to remember and communicate that disabled folks are still PEOPLE, it means you're constantly aware of, but just trying to reject, our dehumanization.
Even some of the most frequently dehumanized identities, those consistently compared to animals (Black and/or LGBTQ+ folks), aren't referred to as "people w/ Blackness" or "people w/ lesbianity".
You aren't constantly fighting the notion they're subhuman or "it defines them".
You aren't constantly fighting the notion they're subhuman or "it defines them".
Why is disability different? Bc ableism.
Longstanding beliefs that if you ID as disabled you're somehow succumbing to it, letting it hold you back, arw permanently lesser or will never have a life worth living. If we're "defective humans", we lose all personhood/identity.
Longstanding beliefs that if you ID as disabled you're somehow succumbing to it, letting it hold you back, arw permanently lesser or will never have a life worth living. If we're "defective humans", we lose all personhood/identity.
While those who go hard for PFL *are* doing it to reject those tropes, it still means they're holding onto the awareness of them tightly.
..thus reminding everyone ELSE of them too as they clunkily trip through long sentences & inevitably explain it's to show we're still people.
..thus reminding everyone ELSE of them too as they clunkily trip through long sentences & inevitably explain it's to show we're still people.
If that doesn't sound MORE insulting than "politically correct", idk what does.
NOW. That said.
Many people w/ a variety of disabilities DO prefer person-first, and their ID needs to be respected and used accordingly. While most of us aren't down, individual ID matters.
But.
NOW. That said.
Many people w/ a variety of disabilities DO prefer person-first, and their ID needs to be respected and used accordingly. While most of us aren't down, individual ID matters.
But.
I do want to encourage each to examine their own potential for internalized ableism. Bc most that prefer it tend to cite societal ideas for why they don't want "disabled person".
"Bc I'm a person, not a disability." True. But the distinction only ever mattered bc of ableism.
"Bc I'm a person, not a disability." True. But the distinction only ever mattered bc of ableism.
"My disability doesn't define me. I'm more than that." That's great, but where'd you learn that would be a bad thing?
"I'm a person first. My illness is secondary." Again, true. But who taught you that one informed that other? Or that an illness stole your personhood/humanity?
"I'm a person first. My illness is secondary." Again, true. But who taught you that one informed that other? Or that an illness stole your personhood/humanity?
"I don't want people to see me for my disability, I want them to see me for me."
That's 100% your prerogative. But is there a chance we were conditioned to feel ashamed? Like disability just ERASES all our individuality/personality? But maybe owning BOTH could correct it faster?
That's 100% your prerogative. But is there a chance we were conditioned to feel ashamed? Like disability just ERASES all our individuality/personality? But maybe owning BOTH could correct it faster?
"I hate the word disabled anyway. I'm not unable, I just use my body differently."
Man, this is a whole other can of worms, and I respect individual feelings, but still encourage you to ask....who taught you that disabled was a bad thing? Meant lesser or unable? Cuz it doesn't.
Man, this is a whole other can of worms, and I respect individual feelings, but still encourage you to ask....who taught you that disabled was a bad thing? Meant lesser or unable? Cuz it doesn't.
There are countless other examples, and most go right alongside the very reasons ableds jump in to tell us why PFL is best.
Sadly, a lot of disabled folks fall prey to it too, and feel like they have something to prove, reclaim or reject in themselves. Bc ableism, not ownership.
Sadly, a lot of disabled folks fall prey to it too, and feel like they have something to prove, reclaim or reject in themselves. Bc ableism, not ownership.
Merely changing wording to reject our discrimination does the opposite. It puts it at the forefront of minds.
It's othering. Infantilizing. Patronizing. Condescending. And repeatedly reminds others that the world forgets we're people. Humans. Individuals.
No thank you.
It's othering. Infantilizing. Patronizing. Condescending. And repeatedly reminds others that the world forgets we're people. Humans. Individuals.
No thank you.
