Introduction
A little about me + my goals with this project
A little about me: My name is Rebecca Upton, and I write about disability. I am a chronically ill, neurodivergent woman with a degree in Disability Studies. I started this blog for two reasons: to trace some of the origins of modern day wellness culture, and to talk about how wellness culture harms disabled people (in addition to other marginalized groups). There are many great science communicators who I have learned from as they debunk the harmful misinformation and disinformation surrounding health and wellness. However, even if these science communicators do occasionally address the ableism, I feel there is a need for more of a focus on this issue. I have not only studied the history of eugenics and the many ways disabled people have been (and still are) discriminated against, but as a chronically ill autistic woman, I have firsthand experience with some of the ableism of wellness culture. For this reason, I figure I am a good person to write about it.
I will be analyzing it through the lens of “healthism.” Healthism places blame on patients, treats health as a moral responsibility, and devalues those who do not live up to societal standards of “health.” I will make a post expanding on this topic. Fatphobia is unfortunately a very essential aspect of healthism and wellness culture, so I will do my best to address that as well, along with other forms of bigotry such as racism, misogyny, classism, homophobia and transphobia. It is also important to note that healthism is not limited to wellness culture, so I will also discuss where healthism shows up in other aspects of society.
I feel that ableism from wellness culture has never been more important to discuss than it is right now. A couple days ago, RFK Jr was confirmed as the head of the HHS. His followers, the “MAHA movement,” are going to feel even more emboldened. Their anti-vaccine beliefs have been validated by the US government. They finally have an administration who will use “MAHA rhetoric” to oppress disabled people and anyone who does not fit their idea of “health.” We are sure to see a lot more ableism come out of this movement. Combatting their mis/disinfo and oppressive beliefs will be essential. I will do my best to help out with this task, and I know I won’t be alone.I hope anyone reading this who hasn’t thought about this topic before is able to take away something from it. If nothing else, I hope they take away that illness or “lack of health” is not a moral failing, vaccines don’t cause autism, and that autistic people are just people, not a “scary epidemic.” If you’re a disabled person who already feels like wellness culture is harmful, I hope this validates your beliefs in some way and reminds you that we’re worth more than the ableist stories they tell about us.