It's About Dang Time (Representation in Music Pt. 1)

When it comes to disability representation, a lot of the focus is put on to TV and movies. And while I fully agree there needs to be more authentic representation there and I advocate for that a lot, I feel representation in music is just as important.

People often connect with music before TV or books so having songs that makes people feel seen is incredibly important.

I grew up with music being a primary source of relaxing and expressing emotions and yet, I could never really see myself (a physically disabled person) in the stories told in the songs I loved listening to and singing.

I’ve only ever heard things like “she walked into the room” and as someone who can’t walk, that has always made me feel really excluded. Like, I can be just as attractive and enticing rolling into the room!

I just listened to “Walk of Shame” by Pink for the first time recently and something really stood out to me. In the song she sings, “Make the elevator come a little faster. I'm pushing all the buttons, but nothing's happening” and that, to me, goes to show how easy and simple inclusivity can be. While I understand being a physically disabled person and having to use the elevator isn’t what Pink was singing about, those lyrics are proof inclusivity and representation aren’t as difficult as some people may believe or say.

Creating a world within music where physically disabled people simply don’t exist is not okay. We exist, we live, we thrive; It’s About Damn Time (love you, Lizzo) more of us are given the chance to show that.