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Education time! This isn& #39;t directed to anyone at all, It& #39;s just I (+ @/lopezbians and @/mchalesagron) saw that there are many people uneducated on this matter!! Warning for ableist language!
Why using the term & #39;wheelchair bound& #39; is offensive + ableist and should stop being used!
Why using the term & #39;wheelchair bound& #39; is offensive + ableist and should stop being used!
First of, although I can not relate to being in a wheelchair because I never needed one, I& #39;m still disabled from the waist down which limits my day to day life and I have done proper research to be allowed to say this.
Second of all, this is no place in ableism. I don& #39;t care if you think this is overdramtic, it& #39;s extremely ableist as is if you think that as an able body person so don& #39;t say anything if it isn& #39;t nice.
Third of all, quick note to any wheelchair users or anyone disabled in general, you& #39;re all so strong and amazing.
Now, to actually get into this.
Now, to actually get into this.
& #39;Wheelchair-bound& #39; is pretty self explanatory, being bound (tied, chained, ect.) down to your wheelchair. It& #39;s as if you& #39;re never going to get out of it. This is offense to both those who will have to use their wheelchair for the rest of their life (+)
(+) and those who are ambulatory wheelchair users (someone who is capable of walking but sometimes needs to rely on a wheelchair.)
& #39;Wheelchair bound& #39; is offensive in many ways. It& #39;s as if you& #39;re bound to this depressing trap, left to live a sad tragedy you can& #39;t escape when you wheelchair shouldn& #39;t be seen as something bad or something you can& #39;t get away from.
Quote, "[...] each time I am told I am wheelchair bound, the implied message I get is "you& #39;re in a wheelchair, you& #39;re limited." Yeah, I& #39;m in a wheelchair, it give me wings!"* End quote.
Being in a wheelchair is something you shouldn& #39;t be ashamed of, it& #39;s something apart of you- wheather you were born into having to use one or something happened that caused you to have to use one. Either way, it& #39;s something you should be proud about (+)
(+) and you should be proud on how far you have come.
& #39;Wheelchair bound& #39; is also offensive to ambulatory wheelchair users because again, it& #39;s as if it& #39;s something so tragic and even if they& #39;re lucky enough to walk again, calling them bound just erases the hard working progress they& #39;ve managed so far.
A great alternative is wheelchair user! For a more broad term you can simply used disabled, which isn& #39;t at all a bad word to say so stop acting like it is!
* http://disabledfeminists.com/2009/11/18/abliest-word-profile-wheelchair-bound/">https://disabledfeminists.com/2009/11/1... link to the quote I used above! I really recommened reading this short article talking more into wheelchair bound and putting together words even better than I could ever.
I think this is the end of this thread for now, if anything else comes up I& #39;ll make sure to add it in!
