And Just Like That... Woke with Jokes?
Sex and the City revival series And Just Like That… preaches ‘wokeness’ yet uses ableist language. In S1 E5, ‘Tragically Hip’, Carrie Bradshaw refers to arthritis as ‘Old Lady Disease’. I was diagnosed at 18 months and am sick of being misrepresented. My pain isn’t a joke.
I was diagnosed with ‘Old Lady Disease’, as Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) calls it, when I was a baby. Eighteen months old. I’ve been dealing with this ignorance for too long and it’s time for the world to wake up.
I’m cringe watching the HBO revival series, And Just Like That… as a former SATC fan. I know that all language can be problematic and, working in media, I get that there are bigger things happening in the world to get upset over.
When you have a captive audience - don’t do further harm towards a disadvantaged group while preaching ‘wokeness’.
Would Carrie have said that in episode one to her coworker who uses a chair? Would the writers or SJP herself say, ‘too bad about that old lady disease’ to a toddler on chemo puking their guts out to salvage tissue? I doubt it.
Below is a Twitter thread that I posted while catching up on the ‘Tragically Hip’ episode. I had to pause it to react, in the moment, on social media (as one does)… Let it be known that I am, at age thirty five, currently waiting on double hip replacement surgeries and a joint fusion/corrective surgery on my right foot. I had my left done at age seventeen.
“It’s arthritis, right? I have OLD LADY DISEASE in my back?” - Carrie Bradshaw on S1 E5 of And Just Like That…
@HBO @AndJustLikeThat do you have disabled people on staff? This language is hugely upsetting. I was diagnosed with RA as an infant, Hi!
This was one of my many, many intravenous drugs. Chemotherapy is a popular method of treatment to fight Rheumatoid Arthritis.
When you spend a significant chunk of your childhood in hospitals, you become well acquainted with the playroom!
Splints on my wrists were intended to keep my joints from deforming as I grew. I know they didn’t stop my range of motion from deteriorating. I have some deformities now as an adult, so I’m not convinced splinting works.
Juvenile (Idiopathic) Rheumatoid Arthritis patient (me) pushing my IV while out for a stroll in hospital. Ever try to get dressed when you’re attached to a pole? It’s not easy.
Carrie’s comments aren’t problematic to those who haven’t lived my life. Between chemotherapy, surgery, wheelchairs & chronic pain/fatigue, I also got heavily bullied for having OLD LADY disease.
Children get arthritis too.
You can’t take back those comments. They’re out there and echoed and echoed and echoed, reaching the ears of children who are very sick and tired and fading… More disabled people in media, please. PLEASE. I volunteer. I will consult with anyone (serious), for free, RE: ableism.
My whole life (like, til death) involves arthritis. It would be nice for people to accept that it’s not an OLD PERSON DISEASE. It’s rare in kids but it happens. I work in media & I want more representation NOW.
Note the swelling in my knees.
Using a wheelchair helps save energy and tissue damage. It also is helpful when I can’t walk.
My splints didn’t stop me from making the most of things!
At 35, I still use my wheelchair when I have tough days.
Arthritis has many forms. How anyone chooses to imitate, accept, react to any of its forms as they present personally or in someone close is fully up to that person. I’m not telling you how you should address the disease or it’s symptoms - I’m simply asking that you consider this diseases devastation to kids who already feel misunderstood, misrepresented and or ignored.
Here are some other things I’ve posted to educate people about autoimmune diseases and the misconceptions that create barriers in our lives:
How Acupuncture Helped Me Survive Pregnancy
When the weight of this pregnancy nearly had me considering Sick Leave and leaving work over a month early, I knew I had to try something, anything to keep going up until my proper leave date.
Some backstory...
I have rheumatoid arthritis. It affects every joint in my body (major ones include ankles, hips and wrists) and has since I was about 18 months old. I'm 30 now. So. Yeah. It's been a wild ride! This is my second pregnancy. I was not working full time during the first (which is stressful in a different way).
December 2015: I gained 40lbs with my first pregnancy.
It was around seven months into this pregnancy that the weight combined with stretching of ligaments and joints in my pelvic region started causing me some outta-this-world pain! I knew it wasn't just the RA and if it continued, how could I continue to be focused at work? I could barely walk to the white-board (about 10 feet from the microphone. Oh, I'm a radio DJ, BTW). Work itself is pretty low-impact, thank GOD, but you know you're in for a rough go when doing things like walking to the washroom, moving studios/offices and getting from the parking lot to said studios/offices leaves you absolutely drained. I was heading to bed before my 2 year old!
I don't like to miss work. The idea of Sick Leave was present in my mind, but I was unwilling to accept that as reality. So... I went to the doctor. Something's gotta give, right? The doctor strongly suggested I try acupuncture.
Hmm...
I had never considered acu-treatment before but the good doctor told me about this place downtown that was great and I was willing to try anything. The place?: OC3. I was set up with Dr. Steen and, let me tell you, his positive attitude and genuine interest in his patients' well-being really helped to keep me going through those painful sessions. Yes. Acupuncture probably cured me, but holy shit. It hurt. It definitely hurt. Dr. Steen (whose official title includes the following: B.Kin, ART, DC Chiropractor) is also a chiropractor (see official title reference like, four words ago), so we would often mix treatments.
What started as two to three appointments per week turned to once a week as my situation improved. The weight was still piling on of course but towards the end of my time with Dr. Steen and the OC3 we cut my appointments back to one every two weeks.
I'm nine months pregnant now and in great shape thanks to some brilliant medical intervention. Every appointment reminder came with an invitation to rate their business and care online. I told myself I wouldn't say anything about their service(s) until I had wrapped my time there.
I can't imagine being in this positive of a head space, feeling this good physically and being able to still be a "fun mom" for my 2 year old, very active son feeling the way I had prior to visiting the OC3. What Dr. Steen has done for me in 8 sessions over the course of 2.5 months is absolutely remarkable. I would highly recommend visiting the OC3 (conveniently located off Elgin St. at Cartier and Lewis with lots of street parking available nearby).
I will be pursuing further treatment with the OC3 post-pregnancy to deal with some ongoing issues relating to my RA which, again, is a method of treatment I hadn't previously considered.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns that relate to this blog post: CONTACT ME. I will gladly answer any and all Qs relating to rheumatoid arthritis, pregnancy with RA and my experiences relating to the treatment I received at the OC3.
My last day with these awesome people! Look at me, walking and smiling and stuff! (Feb. 28, 2017 @ KiSS 1053)