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As a follow-up to my previous post, here is more commentary from feminist and disabled bloggers about The Ashley Treatment.
Earlebecke at Definition - a Feminist Weblog reminds readers that "People with disabilities are first and foremost people with rights."
She is also disappointed in the lack of coverage in the feminist blogosphere:
"I'm still disappointed that there's not more outrage in the major feminist blogs. (Amanda at Pandagon's response can only be described as completely bizarre. Piny hasn't made a post yet but he's been active on other threads so I expect to see something at Feministe soon. Feministing? Who the hell knows?) But if this whole matter has made one thing clear it's that I need to have more disability rights bloggers besides the Gimp Parade in my regular reading list."
She wasn't the only one; Sally vents her frustration in a comment at The Gimp Parade at the conversations taking place at two high-traffic feminist communities.
Definition also points to a post by Thirza Cuthand at Fit of Pique. It describes growing up with her disabled sister, Sky.
She discusses her sister's sexuality:
"Watching her sexuality develop has been pretty trippy too. She doesn't kiss or have sex obviously, but she's very boy crazy, at the dances for other challenged adults in Saskatoon she was known as the girl who steals people's boyfriends. She blushes when she sees a handsome man, jeez, I mean she's so heterosexual!"
She goes on to say:
"The whole concept of keeping her [Ashley] looking like a child disturbs me deeply. They say that since she has the mentality of an infant, it is grotesque to allow her to inhabit a grown 'sexualized' female body. Apparently females with sexual signifiers are only allowed when they are able to be sexual partners. A grown woman with intellectual disabilities is an abomination."
Her final paragraph reads:
"The last point I would like to make is this disturbing 'Pillow Angel' label they place on Ashley and anyone else with comparative disabilities. It refers to the fact that they can put her on a pillow and she stays there. I know they're trying to be cutesy, but it comes across as patronizing in the extreme and a damning assessment of her identity. I bet they even coochie coochie coo her. Bleh. And also, when I think 'Pillow Angel' I think 'Pillow Queen' which refers to a sexual partner who does nothing and lets the other one do all the work. It suggests complacency rather than disability.
"I think the 'Ashley Treatment' is barbaric. I'll go with the Sky treatment any day."
You must read the whole post, titled, "Growing Up with Sky".
Blue at The Gimp Parade has gathered some other posts from disabled and feminist perspectives, and I have a slightly different list at Sour Duck.
I also strongly recommend the following posts:
- Did I Miss Something?: It begins with Ashley.
- Wheelchair Dancer: Human Rights
Melinda Casino's personal blog is Sour Duck.
