Debbie says:

I’ve been putting off a links post for a while now, and the interesting pointers are adding up. Because I can’t resist her picture (and what she has to say is even better), I’m starting with the Funky Ghetto Hijabi on having this picture of her on the cover of the local Style section.

I’m having technical difficulties posting YouTube videos, so for now at least I’m just going to give you links to two of them, both of which pretty much require that you have your computer sound turned on.

This uncommonly transparent exploration of autistic language and the difference between internal processing and external communication will stay with me for a long time. The name comes from a famous quotation by Helen Keller (the blind/deaf activist), which only deepens the significance of the video.

On a completely different note, this YouTube video examines skin color prejudice very directly. The director and the interviewees speak for themselves.

The third (non YouTube) video is a CBS news video showcasing fashion models in wheelchairs. You’re supposed to find it inspiring, and I did. I also found it disturbing. Spinal cord injuries are a very particular kind of disability; accepting a wider range of disabled models would make it much harder to get the particular kind of “everything about us is conventionally sexy and fashionable even though we’re in wheelchairs” flavor you get here. One thing they would never mention is that since most spinal cord injuries occur in teenage or adult years, and many are accidents where someone can be sued or insurance applies, some people with spinal cord injuries are more affluent than someone who is disabled from birth, or from illness rather than injury. Again, despite my reservations, all kudos to the models here, who are doing good work.

Finally, I did a lot worse than I thought I would at this “real or fake” test of pictures of breasts. (Not safe for work.) See how you do. The interesting part, of course (aside from all the beautiful pictures of breasts) is how important a) breasts, and b) perky uplifted breasts are. No surprise, I generally find the real ones more attractive than the “fakes.” (Laurie and I should write about breast implants in more detail someday.)

I’ve done a bad job of remembering where I found all of these. The autism video is from Dawn, the breast test is from Patti. The others are either from several sources, or from sources I can’t quite pin down. Thanks to all.

Islam, hijab, fat, body image, size acceptance, racism, autism, disability, wheelchair, fashion, breasts, breast implants, Body Impolitic