Comments on: Ableist Word Profile: Hysterical

By: zapparina

zapparina — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:09:02 +0000

Firstly, I love this series, it is amazing and helpful.
Secondly, thank you for this entry, this is a “criticism” that has been levelled at me repeatedly throughout my life, pretty much any time I get upset/angry.
Just because I get upset doesn’t mean I’m “hysterical” and just because I’m female doesn’t mean my emotions are not valid.
I was sexually harassed on the bus the other day by a bully who wanted to take up more than her fair share of the seat. When I confronted her and told her what she did was not ok, and was actually sexual assault she called me “psycho” (another ableist term), and when I got upset he, and others on the bus called me hysterical and proceeded to laugh at me.
This still boggles my mind and is yet another example of how the majority will let people suffer rather than a) get involved, or b) challenge their own thinking as to what “normal” or “acceptable” is.
Apparently it is acceptable for someone to sexually harass a stranger on a bus, but not for that person to get upset.
I also wonder if it would have been different if my harasser was not a female?

So thank you.

By: Holly Grigg-Spall

Holly Grigg-Spall — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:22:28 +0000

I recently wrote a post on the connected topic of the historical association between femininity and sickness:

http://sweeteningthepill.blogspot.com/2009/10/selling-sexiness.html

Thanks for your blog!

Holly

By: abby jean

abby jean — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:39:07 +0000

great point, Arwyn – thanks for raising it.

By: Arwyn

Arwyn — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:29:59 +0000

I think the only thing missing from this analysis (which is great, by the way) is acknowledgment that “womanhood” and “having a uterus” are largely overlapping but not exactly the same states of being. That is, it’s cissexist, appearing to ignore the men with uteruses and the women without.

I’m not sure how much or whether it would change the analysis, but I wanted to point that out.
.-= Arwyn´s last blog ..Why I say I’m OK =-.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:01:21 +0000

Thanks to all of you for starting this blog. I’ve been really enjoying it the past few days, and look forward to reading more, both of the ableist word profiles and other posts. I particularly appreciate this excellent dissection of “hysterical,” given how often I–an autistic woman with various mental issues–have been called that and treated as such. It really is such an insidious way to discount someone’s feelings and ideas.
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..Blog Rec: Feminism & Disability =-.

By: abby jean

abby jean — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:50:35 +0000

tera – that’s a great suggestion. we’re working through a backlog of ableist words right now (turns out there’s a lot!) and we’ll definitely add ‘duh’ to the list!

By: Tera

Tera — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:48:12 +0000

Hi, ModernWizard,

can you elaborate on why “duh” is ableist?

Sure can As the American Heritage Dictionary says, duh is “imitative of an utterance attributed to slow-witted people.”
.-= Tera´s last blog ..New blog of awesomeness =-.

By: Matthew Smith

Matthew Smith — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:13:54 +0000

Well, I do know that it’s a commonly cited excuse to slap someone’s face. I remember when I was at school and got slapped in the face repeatedly by the thug of a deputy head because I was supposedly ‘hysterical’, i.e. because I was angry with him. And no, I don’t have a womb.

By: were_duck

were_duck — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:53:06 +0000

This post has been added to a link roundup. Thank you!

By: ModernWizard

ModernWizard — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:42:10 +0000

I appreciate this series on Ableist Words. I am glad that others are propagating thoughtful and inclusive use of language. I can’t wait for the entry on “retarded.”

Tera, can you elaborate on why “duh” is ableist? I have never thought of it as ableist, so clearly I’m missing something!
.-= ModernWizard´s last blog ..7.1: “Inheritance” =-.