Princess of Ableism 2 ("QE" 2.1)

Warning: the phrase “special needs” mentioned once; and the word “crazy” talked about in the first part/paragraph

There are a couple things I couldn’t fit in my last article about season 6 episode 7 of Queer Eye: “Snow White of Central Texas”.

First thing is the amount of times the word “crazy” is said.

I already mentioned the phrase “special needs” being said MANY times during the episode but, apparently, that isn’t enough ableism for a ranch that claims to want to help and take care of disabled kids. Apparently demeaning disabled people in one way just wasn’t enough.

This episode’s hero, Jamie,’s husband (David) said the word “crazy” once at the beginning (about 2.5 minutes in) when the nominators met with the hosts.

Then, the hosts, Jamie, and Jamie’s 3 kids were in the kitchen. The word “crazy” was said 5 or 6 times in the span of 10 seconds.

Tan asked the kids why they think their mom “is just the very best”. One of Jamie’s sons responded, “she’s a little crazy”. Then it was a bunch of people talking over each other. The two full sentences I can make out are from, I believe, Antoni and Tan. Tan said “we love a crazy mum”. Then Antoni said “we like crazy”.

That word is ableist because it’s used as a way to demean and devalue people with mental illnesses. It is also used as an insult for people others see as less than, because they see “crazy” people as less than.

Whenever someone does something that is seen as “abnormal” to whoever, they’re called crazy.

And no, it does not matter if they meant it in a positive way or not. That word is not okay. You can simply change your language to a clearer and more accurate portrayal of what you mean. While also trying to not hurt others.

You know, “wild” or “fun” are widely known and used alternatives.

Start caring about others as EQUALS and replace a word in your language.

Another thing I couldn’t find room in my last article to address is Jamie’s mother (Karen) saying “Any family or child or adult that has a superpower of some sort…”. (“Superpower” is a euphemism they use in this episode instead of saying “disability”.)

Here’s my issue with what Karen said: Disability is not something a family has, it’s something individual people experience.

Talking about my experience: I have Spina Bifida. Because of that disability I have experiences that are just mine. My family members have the experiences of being related to someone with Spina Bifida. That gives them personal experiences of their own, yes, but I am the only person to know what it’s like to be me and live with my disability and experience it in the way that I do.

I can bond with a family member about both of us being disabled and being in the Disabled/Disability Community; I can talk and complain about ableism with a family member. That doesn’t mean our family has a disability as a whole.

Even if many people in a family are disabled, we would all have different experiences, outlooks, and perspectives because we’re different people.

Even when 2 people have the same disability, we can have similar experiences, but not the exact same. Never the exact same.

Being disabled - having a disability or disabilities - is an individual experience. It isn’t something a whole family as a unit “has”.

This episode - this show - is incredibly ableist. And it’s not okay.