This week we read Leviticus 21 – 24; Parashat Emor. While reading we came across some pieces of the text that stirred up some intense reactions. For example, Chapter 21, Verses 16-23 read:
“The LORD spoke further to Moses: Speak to Aaron and say: No man of your offspring throughout the ages who has a defect shall be qualified to offer the food of his God. No one at all who has a defect shall be qualified: no man who is blind, or lame, or has a limb too short or too long; no man who has a broken leg or a broken arm; or who is a hunchback, or a dwarf, or who has a growth in his eye, or who has a boil-scar, or scurvy, or crushed testes. No man among the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall be qualified to offer the LORD’s offering by fire; having a defect, he shall not be qualified to offer the food of his God. He may eat of the food of his God, of the most holy as well as of the holy; but he shall not enter behind the curtain or come near the altar, for he has a defect. He shall not profane these places sacred to Me, for I the LORD have sanctified them.”
Let’s sit with that for a moment. What emotions arise for you while you read this? To us, it seems pretty ableist. I mean, you can’t be a high priest if you break a bone? While it is great that people who are considered different can participate in Judaism, why can’t they lead it? We should be making space for all kinds of people. This idea of people with different abilities/appearances being “broken” or not being capable of greatness is a stubbornly held belief in many cultures.
We see some of these ideas across social media as well. There are people who think that just because you are fat, short, blind, deaf, or have a physical or intellectual disability, you are incapable of achieving the same greatness as people without these stumbling blocks. It has been proven to us time and time again that no matter what your ability or your size, you are capable of great things. It may take you a little more time or require a few accommodations, but you are capable of greatness regardless of what stands in your way.
A few examples of this include Kodi Lee, Ali Stroker, and Lizzo. Kodi Lee is a 24-year-old Korean-American singer and songwriter who won Season 14 of America’s Got Talent. Kodi just so happens to be both Autistic and Blind. He blew away the judges and the audience with his audition (he even got the Golden Buzzer) and won over the hearts of America. Despite several things making life harder for him, he accomplished something amazing.
Ali Stroker is an unbelievably talented Broadway performer. She was recently in the Broadway production of Oklahoma! What is unique about her? She is in a wheelchair. She is the first person who uses a wheelchair for mobility to appear on a Broadway stage, be nominated for, and win a Tony award. Her motto is, “Turn your limitations into opportunities.”
Lizzo, you may know, is a professional singer, songwriter, rapper, and flutist. Through her work in music, she is working to fight society’s current beauty standards. She has been subject to body shaming, but is an icon for body positivity and self-confidence. People have assumed a lot about her lifestyle because of the way she looks. However, she exercises every day and lives a healthy, vegan lifestyle. Size or looks do not equal health. Skinny does not mean healthy and fat does not mean unhealthy. Every body is different. Nominated for 75 awards, and a recipient of 14 (including 3 Grammy Awards), Lizzo has shown that what you look like does not attest to your abilities or what you can achieve. Her performance of her song “Truth Hurts” at the2019 BET Music Awards proves just how awesome she is (this song contains PG-13 language). It’s about time we abolish ableism.
While we’re on the subject, let’s discuss ableism in the fashion industry. Take a moment and envision your favorite/go-to clothing company. Think about the models they use. What do they look like? Are they all similar sizes? Do any of them use mobility aids like wheelchairs? Are they all the same race?
For decades, our answer to these questions would be: yes all of these models look alike and are similar sizes and the same race and don’t use any mobility aids. There was little to no diversity. We’re not saying things are much better now, but we’re finally on the right track.
There are brands who make a big show out of doing things like casting diverse models, and then there are brands that just do it. ModCloth is one of those brands that just do it. Founded in 2002, ModCloth is an independent clothing company that features “[u]nique, vintage-inspired designs that are timeless and flattering for everybody.” They have always been dedicated to inclusivity as shown by a blurb on their “About Us” page which states, “From ModCloth’s outset, we’ve set industry standards in regards to size inclusion, anti-photoshopping policies, and female leadership long before it was the norm. Go Global’s mission is to help ModCloth continue to innovate, and amplify the brand while staying true to its essence.”
But, you don’t have to read their “About Us” page to know all of this, you just need to take one look at their website. While scrolling through their website you’ll see models of different races and sizes. While there is a “plus size” section on their website, these items can also be found while scrolling through the other general sections of the site. Most, if not all, items on their website include both straight and plus sizes in the same listing and the prices don’t change. A size 0 skirt will cost the same as a size 26 skirt.
Their social media accounts might be arguably even more diverse. Their Instagram features images of customers, models, fashion bloggers, etc. showing off their ModCloth finds.
Like their website, they feature models of different races and sizes but they also include models of different abilities including those that use mobility aids such as wheelchairs. They don’t point this out specifically on these posts, nor do they make a big fuss about it. They treat it just like a regular post, as they should. Their Instagram does a great job representing who they are as a company by not only featuring diversity, but bright colors and bold patterns which are staples in their items.
Another company that strives for inclusivity is Aerie. In 2014 they launched their #AerieReal campaign and stopped editing the appearance of models. They wanted their models to look like actual people, not photoshopped to “perfection.” Now, six years later, they are still working hard to make sure they represent their diverse customer base. An article from Forbes about the campaign, “Aerie Continues To Include Authentic Disability Representation — Ali Stroker Joins #AerieREAL Role Model Family” talks about how other lingerie brands have made strides to be diverse in terms of sizes, race, and gender expression, they lack “disability representation.” Their current campaign includes gold medal paralympic snowboarder Brenna Huckaby, blind Youtuber and motivational speaker Molly Burke, and Tony-winning actress Ali Stroker.
Are these brands perfect? No. But, they are on the right track. When it comes to issues like diversity and inclusivity, there is always room for improvement. We encourage you to be mindful with your money. Support brands who support you. Look for brands who have values that reflect your own. Remember, money talks. The more we support brands like these and leave other non-inclusive brands in the dust, the more likely it is we will see inclusive brands. If we want change, we must demand it.
Clothing is just one aspect of creating an inclusive society. We must also look at other spaces in our lives and make sure they are also inclusive. Use your eyes and ears. Do you see a wide variety of people being represented? Are the spaces you visit equipped to handle people of all abilities? Are the people you associate with using inclusive language? Are you using inclusive language? We have a long way to go, but changes like which companies to support and the language we use are a step in the right direction.
Until next time stay safe, enjoy the changing weather, and wear a mask!
Love,
Amanda & Marissa
