The internet blew up on Tuesday night when pictures from
Kylie Jenner’s Interview magazine photoshoot
were released. Kylie is depicted as an absurd doll-like figure in a gold wheelchair
for a Steven Klein editorial, and I'm really not okay with it.
I refuse to post the images from the shoot here but Google
them and make up your own mind.
I was very vocal on Twitter about my opinion on the
photographs. My outrage stemmed from the fact Kylie, an able-bodied celebrity
has the ability to get up and walk away from that chair. A wheelchair is not a
prop, it’s not a fashion statement, it’s a necessity for many disabled people. Apparently
the images were to highlight the ‘limitations of fame.’ How on earth does a
wheelchair represent limitations? A wheelchair is freedom for so many disabled
people, for me. A wheelchair means we can live a ‘normal’ life. We can go out,
we can do things that everyone else does, despite our disability. The fact that
she commented on ‘limitations’ just shows how ill-informed she really is; we’re
only limited because of the ableist society we live in and when well-known
celebrities like Kylie Jenner are appropriating this view, it’s extremely
harmful to many of the disabled community. We deal with a lot of limitations on
a daily basis, from accessibility to discrimination – but a wheelchair is
freedom.
Furthermore, the styling of the shoot is ambiguous, are
Kylie and her team insinuating that those of us that use a wheelchair are
sub-human? Are we aliens? Not normal? Unnatural? The stiff doll-like dominatrix
costuming is not only weird but overtly sexual. So many disabled people are on
the receiving end of fetishisms. Are you even aware that these people exist? These
fetishists see a disabled body as a sexual object and nothing more.
I'm all for seeing a wheelchair on the front page of a major
magazine, the day that happens I will rejoice. But why not give disabled models
a chance? There’s so many out there that simply can’t find work because of
their chair/disability. Models of Diversity are doing amazing work trying to
alter this but we still need to break down a lot of walls. Not only that but Enhance the UK's Undressing Disability campaign is trying to lift the taboo surrounding sex and disability; they photographed REAL disabled people in their underwear highlighting the importance of understanding that disabled people ARE people and have relationships. We need the younger
generation to see this, they need to know that it’s okay to be different, it’s okay to be disabled, and to
love yourself. We don’t need inconsiderate celebs making a mockery of disability.
Opinions vary, obviously, what’s the point in us all being
the same? I know people that aren't bothered by the Kylie Jenner images and I'm
not criticising their lack of interest, so why abuse me for having an opinion? I've
been on the receiving end of trolls for my stance on this, I've been called ‘pathetic’,
told that I ‘use my disability as a weapon,’ and I should ‘walk it off.’ As a
chronically ill woman, who uses a wheelchair, do you know how hurtful that is? Unfortunately,
unlike Kylie, I can’t ‘walk it off.’ I've shed many a tear over having to use a
wheelchair and spent a lot of time worrying and agonising over how I'm perceived
by able-bodied people. I'm self-conscious, people stare, people treat me like a
child, but it’s better than not being able to go outside at all. I've been on
the receiving end of verbal abuse due to my disability and others have had much
worse, Kylie has no idea what it’s like to be disabled. Nobody would choose to
be in a wheelchair if they didn't have to. It’s not glamorous; it’s not a
fashion statement. Although those of us who do rock a chair are pretty damn fabulous! See what my gorgeous friend Vicky says about it HERE.
Pat on the back for the Kardashian/Jenner PR team, the
controversy certainly caused a reaction.
However, don’t mix up limiting and empowering.

I find it so sickening that they used a wheelchair like you quite rightly said, as a prop.I can't stand the Kardashian/Jenner clan anyway but Kylie's ignorance claiming it highlights the limitations of fame.
ReplyDeletePerhaps they could have put Kylie in a perspex box to show limitations. Even better they could have left her in there, lol.
x
Sorry that was meant to say 'Kylie's ignorance claiming it highlights the limitations of fame, is a new low, even for them'.
Deletex
Exactly, that would have made so much more sense x
DeleteSuch a beautifully written post Sarah! You're spot on, she has totally mixed up limitations & freedom. It's our conditions that are limiting, not the aids (by definition of the word!) we use. I hope this incident (you wouldn't believe how long it took me to spell that right!!!) has shown the greater population how wrong she is, rather than backing up the prejudices many already hold. Xx
ReplyDeleteA really interesting post, thank you for sharing your tips. I'm really trying to improve my photography at the moment. I'm finding practice invaluable. The more photos I take, the better I'm able to translate what I want the image to look like into a photo. I'm still (& hopefully will always be) learning & developing. It's an exciting journey! Xx
Tania | When Tania Talks
You're so right x
Delete