Girls Using Walking Sticks

One key reason is that Covid causes blood clots, particularly in legs & lungs. There are many thousands of peer-reviewed scientific studies confirming this fact. A simple search on the Lancet or British Medical Journal (BMJ) portals will give you access to many of the studies. You could also follow Harry Spoelestra on X. I think he’s a cardiologist but he also peer-reviews scientific studies prior to publication. Harry is great at bullet-pointing the science so that idiots like me can understand the damage that Covid can do to the body. Hope this helps.

Sorry I didn’t see this sooner!

In my case it’s just because my hair is such an awful colour that I genuinely hate it- basically it’s poo coloured…

I’m not very alternative otherwise really but I’ve found my hair is a real demonstration of who I am. I love it my colour and style and it’s practical too. It also works really well in my job as people tend to see me as more normal rather than a pretentious professional.

There's a differernce where I live too between the towns and rural areas, and the city. The girls with walking stick seems to be an entirely city thing.

Interestingly the males doing it all seem to be TiMs. I'd say it's very female coded for whatever reason.

I take your point entirely and don't disagree with it.

I still think the walking stick thing is part of an identity fad among a specific cohort of young women who don't have very obvious physical disabilities such as yours, but who are keen to be recognised as disabled, whereas most people would usually be keen not to be, if that makes sense.

Nothing anyone says is going to persuade me that this is not the case. My particular city is full of them. It's also apparently one of the places with the highest concentration of trans identified people in the UK.

I am not sure if it is primarily the wacky hair and clothes choices or the age of the young women whose movements and appearance you have been scrutinising which has led you to the conclusion that they are not physically disabled and therefore must be carrying a walking stick purely as a fashion statement, though I suspect it is a combination of the two factors.
I will share my own experience with you in the hope that it will help broaden your horizons, illustrate that people don't fit into nice neat categories and remind you that it is rarely a good idea to judge a book simply by its cover.
I was born with a disability, born without eyes. Growing up surrounded more or less entirely by fully-sighted people I became aware that I was known, primarily, as 'the blind girl'. When you are a child with an immediately obvious and othering disability it can quickly become your defining feature, however much you fervently hoped that people might think of you as primarily clever or kind or a talented musician or funny or any other aspect of your personality first. This is because, as demonstrated frequently on this thread, it is human nature to make quick snap judgements based on a first look at a person and make all kinds of assumptions about their character and abilities accordingly.
I had a great number of hobbies and interests as a child and teenager which I entered into with gusto, partially because I loved those things but also partly because I hoped it would lead me to meeting other children who I could connect with mainly through our shared passions and accomplishments and that would form the basis of our relationship and would stop every conversation from regressing to endless questions about my blindness. I have always answered such questions as I know people, especially children, are just curious and I am also a natural people-pleaser, but having every new person you meet from childhood onwards, adults as well as kids, immediately asking often quite personal and repetitive questions about your disability can get a bit waring when it's more or less constant.
As a teenager I adopted a deliberately distinctive style of dress and also dyed my hair bright colours, usually pink or purple. I figured that, since I was going to stand out even if I kept my wardrobe uniformly monochrome, I might as well have fun and express my personality while doing so. It certainly worked at university, I made a lot of friends and conversational openers usually ran along the lines of compliments about my hair or clothes rather than embarrassing questions about how I get dressed or eat or offers to feel the face of someone I'd just met, this happened more often than you would believe. Yes, I was being judged on something superficial, but at least it was something I had chosen and had control over.
In short, it seems completely understandable to me that young women with disabilities may wish to present themselves in distinctive ways and I hope my first hand account will have changed your perspective of the motivations of the people you see carrying walking aids while not wearing a twin set and pearls.
I'm now a mum in my late 30s and, while my dresses are a more conservative length than in my teens and early twenties, I still favour bright and quirky prints and I certainly don't dress to blend in!

I honestly can't imagine being out and about and playing "spot the trans person" (you searched for them? Why?!)
That's..... extra.
Blue hair = trans is something you only ever see on here as well, it's so bizarre. Whereas in reality having cool coloured hair is just that - having cool coloured hair. Not always an LGBT thing.

I see so many more trans people when I'm in the UK than in my country of residence (in Europe).

I was in Manchester and it happened to be pride. I noticed so many that I have searched for them! All seemed to be in the blue haired demographic!

I wonder if part of it is not (or not only) that the coloured-hair crowd are more likely to pretend to be disabled, but that genuinely disabled young people (at least women) are more likely to join the coloured-hair crowd. Let's face it, the whole dressing like an anime character thing does tend to appeal more to people who are outsiders in some way, and maybe the physically disabled are often drawn to that scene for the same reasons as people with autism, social awkwardness etc are. People above mentioned the importance of online communities for disabled people: but it's very easy for people in intense online communities of any type to get sucked into the whole Tumblr/Tumblresque scene with its particular ideas of what looking cool looks like.

Their online quiz is interesting, I did it (I actually do have osteoarthritis and use a stick occasionally, so I answered appropriately). At the end of the quiz it says:

Please note: The information provided in this quiz is not medical advice, all recommendations are based on experience selling and using mobility aids. If you are unsure about your symptoms or require medical advice, please do consult your doctor or relevant medical professional.

Which rather implies that they’re well aware that some of their prospective customers really don’t have diagnosed medical conditions.

OTOH the backstory is genuine and convincing and their products do seem to satisfy a genuine need among younger people (and others) who would prefer personalised walking aids.

Seeing more and more of these in Central London - particularly noticeable one at lunchtime at Covent Garden with flashy Union Jack stick that she seemed to be carrying more than using to lean on/walking assistance. Aged 20s, black linen flowy dress, boots, long mohawk style haircut - shaved sides... multi coloured mismatched socks. Not that any of that matters...

When I got home remember the stick and googled and came across this site;
https://www.coolcrutches.com/collections/summer-sale

Very interesting that their blog photos are mainly depicting pages and pages of young girls and not octogenarians (or worn out older people) who you'd think would be their main demographic for crutches.
https://www.coolcrutches.com/blogs/news

No judgement, but I personally feel there is a bit of a trend / fad going on at the mo.

Just ressurrecting this thread, because of some observations I've made over the past few weeks. I've been away on business, still in the UK, but very different areas demographically to my home city. My home city seems to have a disproportionately large number of trans identified people and while it's not exactly Brighton it does have a heavy presence of that lefty/artsy/alternative/studenty/LGBTQ+ thing about it.

While I was away I saw plenty of walking sticks and mobility scooters but they were almost exclusively used by middle aged people who I would describe euphemistically as probably 'disadvantaged' and then lots of elderly people. Not youngsters, and in fact there were very few of the non-binary, blue haired, dungereed type kids at all, disabled or otherwise, yet this area of the UK has probably one of the highest number of disabled people per head of the community in the whole of the UK. There was plenty of disability in evidence, just not apparent among the demographic being discussed on this thread.

In three weeks I only once saw two; two girls of around 18-20, out together, both with walking sticks and lanyards, both had bright pink hair, one was definitely disabled (visually impaired) the other just looked 'delicate' and exceptionally thin. But she was dressed up to the nines, full face of quite theatrical make up, bright pink hair and very contrived/stylised outfit designed to be very 'look at me' in a very overtly 'girly' style. Think puffy tutu, big bow in her hair, bright pink tights, very high heels, etc.

But in all those weeks away, and lots of time spent in highly populated places, and brief visits to two big city centres, that's all I saw. Not one person who I would say caught my eye as trans or probably non-binary.

On the day I arrived home, (I flew) I saw two young people together, both trans, at a London airport, upon arrival. One biological male who was either trans or non-binary, with long, curled hair and make up, and one biological female, with a typically mannish haircut, the beginnings of a beard, and a chest that was obviously under a chest binder, but still very obviously biologally female. The trans man went into the men's loo while their male trans-woman (or maybe non-binary) partner waited outside. Interestingly, all the men going in were turning left, presumably to the urinals, where this person I noted went in, paused for a moment, then turned right. Presumably to a cubicle. I wonder how men feel about biological women being in their space when they are using communal urinals? Obviously they are not at the same sort of threat of harm as women, but I can't imagine it's a very comfortable feeling either, getting their knob out to pee knowing a woman is right behind them. and I wonder if the trans-man themselves feels a sense of imposter syndrome when it is so immediately obvious why they need the cubicle, and that they are not in possession of a penis?

Then I went into my home city the very next day. Within ten mins of being out of the car park I encountered two girls (not together) who looked non-binary, both with blue/green hair, lanyards and walking sticks. I was around the town centre for about two hours in all and I also saw one biological man in his fifties or sixties who was dressed in a very cartoonish interpretation of womanhood, high heels, fishnets and a fifties style red gingham knee lenght dress with a cinched waist, big net petticoats, dinky little handbag in the crook of his elbow, you get the picture.

Then, about an hour later I saw another man, 65-70, who looked like a completely regular bloke from the chest up, bald head, no make up, no jewellery, but his outfit was bizarre. He had man's pink t-shirt on, over skin tight, wet look, ladies black leggings that finished halfway up his calves, and very high black stiletto sandals which he was tottering around in.

Neither of these men 'passed' as women in any way whatsoever, and it didn't look like they were particularly trying to either, although they were both clearly very happy to draw attention to themselves. They just looked very fetishy.

I do think there is a definite parallel to be drawn between the political and social demographic of an area and the number of non-binary/trans/spoonie/young female walking stick users in the area. As I said, given the national statistics on disability rates in various areas across the UK, I'd have expected to see far more in the area I had travelled to for work, but I saw far, far fewer. I saw three times as many in two hours at home as I saw in three weeks in the other place.

It seems that certain disabilities afflicting certain types of (mainly young) people are not equally represented across the country, which is weird.

Another thing I've heard on SM, and IRL as a disabled person:

You have all these diagnoses

Because some of them overlap!

Regarding this "trend", if it is a trend, of young ladies and their sticks, if some of them are on the spectrum they may be more likely to suffer complex trauma and related trauma based diagnoses may overlap like BPD/EUPD, OCD, anxiety, self harm. sometimes issues like FND, MS, Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS are linked to high cortisol levels due to chronic trauma often. I don't find it hard to believe so many people have multiple diagnoses or even self diagnoses. EDS/hypermobility often linked to ASD. There are so much overlap with these conditions and often doctors won't agree on a diagnosis so it all gets added to patient notes .

I recall a comment on MN once that it's never wheelchair users complaining about their spoons as if Lupus, Fibro, ME/CFS etc sufferers are never full time wheelchair or ambulatory wheelchair users. I seem to recall that the Spoon Theory was written by someone with Lupus which can be extremely debilitating and at its worst even life limiting.

For those that think well isn't trauma overused now consider what sort of things trauma can mean for a young person. Bullying, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, alcoholic parents or caregivers, etc. Are these things not actually common?

It's certainly easier to back out of it.

But it's not a healthy way to cope.

I think it's being put upon and assumed that these young women 'identify' as disabled, by posters on here.

No one used to 'identify as' (usually as some marginalized or perceived oppressed group) years ago, You just were.

And isnt odd how people dont seem to 'identify' as anything other than vulnerable/marginalised/discriminated against groups?

Who identifies as aristocracy?
Who identifies as white middle class?
Who identifies as clever?
Who identifies as fit and healthy?
Who identifies as able?
Who identifies as mentally well?

“Identity” as in “I identify as” and misused in place of “personality” or “I am” most certainly is, as is the idea that anyone has an “identity” that defines them rather than a personality that is expressive of who they are.

I don’t think that it was in general use even ten years ago.

Part of the disconnect that many feel probably stems from the assumption that disability is something brought about by organic disease or by structural damage or dysfunction...that is what most people generally think of as 'disabled'. People who have lost a limb; are paralysed; blind; in advanced stages of Motor Neurone disease or Parkinson's and so on.

Whereas what we now see are an increasing number of people being classified as 'disabled' because of neurological disorders, of the type which are sometimes difficult to define, or to label, or difficult to identify or test using conventional medical method. Sometimes the conditions can seem vague or ambiguous. People suffering from fatigue and muscular aches; occasional numbness in limbs; digestive disturbances; migraines; depression, anxiety; Long Covid; ME and so on....

Even something like Plantar Fascitis can be classed as a disability ( and which is something I have recently been suffering from; or Epilepsy...which i have suffered from in the past, and which my husband started suffering around about the time of Covid) These sorts of conditions many people don't really think of as disabilities, but just as conditions which one has to live with and adapt to. Many people suffer from repetitive conditions which compromise their life or function some times and in certain ways.

Its almost like we have forgotten that people have likes and dislikes, preferences, choices, habits. Thats what makes us human, we all have them, we dont have to 'identify' as a shopper or a telly watcher or a cake eater.

Yes @BlibBlabBlob! Very well said.

I remember finding a bunch of young women on Yahoo groups (yes, I’m that old) who had the same obscure condition as me. Omg, the relief was massive.

The isolation pain of young disabled women has been wonderfully reduced by social media facilitating connections.

@electric69 I couldn't agree more with your entire post, but especially this bit:

When you become part of the disabled community it becomes a big part of you. I had a virus aged 12 that turned into ME/CFS so I've been part of the disabled community for a long time even before the stick and SM. It does become a huge adjustment as a young person, it dominates your life, your friends leave you, you feel alone. You need someone to talk to. Back then I joined a community via post for young people with ME, they had their own newsletter and pen pal system. Now I discuss my mental health to raise awareness and I now support other people as a peer mentor online. Is that making it part of your identity?

I don't think that people who are unaffected by disability can even begin to understand what it's like, especially when young, and how it can isolate you. You need someone to talk to who actually gets it, has lived experience like you do, who doesn't spend the whole conversation tilting their head and doing tinkly bloody MN laughs and coming out constantly with unsolicited suggestions that start with 'Why don't you just...' or 'Have you tried...'. Or, when you have a disabled child, 'Well, I wouldn't accept that sort of nonsense from my (non-disabled!!) child.'

When you find the people whose lives are like yours, you find your community and it does become a huge part of your identity. Not something you celebrate, of course, whether it's your own disability or your child's (or both, in my case). But when you have something going on that literally affects every aspect of your life, it's hard NOT to consider it part of your identity. And talking about it publicly, which I guess would include Instagram (which I don't use, I'm too old for that sort of nonsense) is a fantastic way to spread awareness and understanding and help others feel less isolated.

The thought that people would see my DD using her stick with her (partly) coloured hair, and see me next to her wearing my dungarees, and assume that either/both of us have no disabilities and are just following a fashion trend... well, as I've probably put across on this thread, it gets my autistic sense of injustice VERY MUCH fired up. I'm sure there are a small number of individuals who are either consciously or subconsciously pretending that they have a mobility issue that they don't actually have. But I'm also pretty sure it's a VERY small number. Some of us have taken the time to explain exactly why neurodivergent young women might be much more likely to need a walking stick than other young people. And why the sparkly colourful NeoWalk sticks might appeal to them, given that they need to use a stick anyway. And still posters are coming out with stuff like "buying a walking stick as some attention seeking fashion accessory because having blue hair, wearing neon green dungarees, tattooing your face and telling everyone you’re so quirky isn’t special enough anymore." On what planet is that OK?

This is FWR and I've been here a long time and am gender critical as fuck. I am not into identity politics AT ALL. And I still don't think it's OK for us to be picking up on something that affects a lot of young women (not men) and assuming they are faking it. If my vulnerable DD read this thread she'd probably stop using her sticks entirely, and we'd be back to being housebound or me attempting to carry a fucking teenager home because she's crying in pain having tried to overdo the walking without any support. Because she'd be so worried that people are looking at her out in public and assuming she's following some sort of fucking fashion trend.

Oh good grief!! Ok..

Apparently that’s fine so long as you don’t also have a glittery stick, blue hair, dungarees, youthful appearance, ADHD or autism, or an instagram account where you get happy about your stick.

(sarcasm!)

Good grief, that's horrendous! Sorry to hear you went through that.

What I think is crazy is some of the assumptions people have about disabilities being fake. I have seen the following kind of illogical assumptions on social media:

Buying a nice walking stick instead of using a grey NHS crutch as an indicator of faking

(never mind that NHS crutches are unwieldy and heavy, I couldn't use either a metal or a wooden one; also its a huge assumption that the NHS provides everything. I spent years avoiding the NHS after my reaction to meds causing the disability; I had little faith in doctors anyway. Nowadays the NHS is skint. I used my PIP (was DLA then) to buy my stick. I had to buy the claw foot for mine as I use it for balance, an NHS bung wouldn't be much good)

Not leaning heavily on the stick, not limping, or having an obviously uneven gait is an indicator of faking

Well, my gait does sometimes look quite odd if you spend time with me to notice. Fatigue, level of pain, how much I've done etc all affect me. Often I may walk just fine!

Using a stick for some excursions and not others is an indicator of faking

Nope. absolutely nope. Some conditions fluctuate or vary. But its never far away. its bloody horrible living with this. (and yes, i know some are worse off, that's not the point). No exercise means I get worse, and end up unable to move much at all. But I'm limited in what sort of exercise I can do.

Talking about it a lot on SM is faking

When you become part of the disabled community it becomes a big part of you. I aually had a virus aged 12 that turned into ME/CFS so I've been part of the disabled community for a long time even before the stick and SM. It does become a huge adjustment as a young person, it dominates your life, your freinds leave you, you feel alone. You need someone to talk to. Back then I joined a community via post for young people with ME, they had their own newsletter and pen pal system. Now I discuss my mental health to raise awareness and I now support other people as a peer mentor online. Is that making it part of your identity?

One I've had personally levlled at me is But your family don't mention the struggled you're having Uh, I mentioned CPTSD. Do you imagine that my family would admit that I had been abused? Not everyone with disability has normal parents!!!

I'm not saying this trend doesn't exist but I'm not sure we can be so sure that everybody is faking. It seems like this could become a new "stick" (I couldn't think of a better pun) to beat the Spoonie (I wear that with pride!) and ND communities with tbh.