Girls Using Walking Sticks

EDS is a genetic disorder, and the diagnostic criteria were tightened in 2017. One cannot simply self diagnose a genetic disorder.

POTs/MCAS are being diagnosed more often, and mostly in women, since 2020. They are common post viral sequelae of Covid-19 infection. (And, frankly, the consequences of Covid-19 will continue to increase as long as public health policy continues to ignore it.) They are real and debilitating.

I think it would be very unfortunate if prominent GC commentators start to pass comment on disabled people, especially at the moment when disabled people are under significant pressure due to discussions about disability benefits and cuts. Disabled women in particular have been central to the campaign for single sex spaces.

DOI I use a walking stick. (I do not, however, have any self ID diagnoses, and I don't have POTS or similar.)

We’ve had a couple in the school I work at, it tends to be the “quirky” students. In one case we were under the impression that Mum was trying to find something wrong with her child for what we can only imagine was a benefits scam, during school hours she couldn’t walk without it but out of school she played sport absolutely fine at a competitive level and had no problems running about. The other had always been quite attention seeking and had been caught out exaggerating and making up stories about her life and health repeatedly. Other than this I’ve not seen any other girls with walking sticks.

I thought maybe it was for the swagger. Like in a cabaret with a top hat and some fish net tights.

Funny trends these days... walking sticks... asexuality... I wonder who actually are the trendsetters....

I haven't seen this trend in my area. I work with young people, many of who are autistic and some are on the self identifying route but none have had sticks yet.

Also plain rudeness is a bigger thing.

So does mine.

Isn't it caused by women taking testosterone? It's really bad for their bones?

Pretending you have a disability doesn’t do any favours for disabled people

My point stands.

As someone with a physical disability affecting my joints, who has used sticks in the past, I do not understand this at all but I think it’s better than when I was growing up at least.

I hated using any mobility aids, showing any signs of being different and now it’s not only acceptable but praised? I think there’s something positive about that in a twisted way.

As is rude people pushing in the bus queue to get a seat.
It’s not at all common for someone to need a seat at the back of the bus.

Well fancy that ..
I am bang on Trend . .
Started to use a walking stick due to foot drop mainly .. Its a dark red one.

My sibling is 25 and uses a stick. Was diagnosed with arthritis in both knees and ankles at 4 yeses old. Is that sufficient? I'll be sure to let them know they're on trend.

I actually have a cane that I don't use. I might start using it now 😂

Epilepsy is a disability. It doesn’t need the sarcastic quote marks.

OMG I do actually have misophonia! Now I need to get a sturdy walking stick, so I can savagely beat anybody who dares to munch an apple in my presence.

They’re not but maybe they don’t have to tut because surely they must know invisible disability is a thing.

Yeah, it's the whole chronically ill/neurodivergent trend that's been big for the last few years. You see a lot of these people on TikTok. They usually have at least four or five of the following:

Walking stick, sunflower lanyard, POTS, fibromyalgia, ADHD, non-binary, EDS, autism, C-PTSD, emotional support dog, PIP, dungarees, brightly dyed hair, misophonia.

Of course not every young person with a walking stick is a spoonie, before anyone jumps on me.

I’ve been using one for years now, always ahead of the curve, me. (Osteoarthritis 🙁).

I did see off a herd of curious bullocks with it while out walking, though, very useful in that respect.

Girls want to be different from the rest.
Girls copy other girls.
It was always like this.

I had to start using a walking stick in the last 2 years due to an injury leading to a diagnosed disability (not POTS). I do need to lean on it heavily after just a few minutes of standing and walking. Being ‘too young’ to need a mobility aid, I’ve had a few encounters with disbelieving people when in public. Other young people I know who have need of a stick are afraid to use one because of this recent stereotype.

I am going straight for the walking frame

What's pots please?