Girls Using Walking Sticks

[Arran2024]

I saw a post about this on X this morning. Apparently it is a trend.

Anyway, I went into town this afternoon and sure enough, I saw a number of young women with walking sticks. None of them looked like they were leaning hard on their stick, just kind of walking along like it was a big umbrella.

Is anyone else seeing this?

The world would be boring if everyone dressed the same wouldn't it.

It's a same people are so small minded/insecure that they judge.

I dress fairly boringly but some of the most brilliant and caring people I know dress unconventionally.

This is a shocking thread. I am saddened by the ableism throughout. Awful for those using mobility aids to feel they have to justify themselves.

Look up the trend for men and boys barging and crashing into women. It's happened to me.

It may be they feel that carrying something like that could put the bastards off.

Women used to wield hatpins with such ferocity against 'mashers' that their length became restricted.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/hatpin-peril-terrorized-men-who-couldnt-handle-20th-century-woman-180951219/

It could be a 21st century version of that.

Or it could simply be you've noticed that some people who don't 'look' disabled are carrying aids for getting around - and to indicate that they do in fact need facilities and consideration even though it may not look like it.

Or it may simply be ... fashion. People have carried canes, parasols, swagger sticks, swords. And worn bustles, hobble skirts, platforms, winkle pickers, ruffs and enormous wigs for fashion.

I used a wheelchair in childhood, then a walking frame and then a stick into my early 20’s.

Of course every busy body nosy cow felt it entirely appropriate to stop me in the street and ask “what’s wrong with your legs” as though my youth somehow made my disability questionable.

It's ok, we now know we are allowed to be disabled but we have to wait till we are older and we must have natural coloured hair and only wear beige clothes from Next.
It's important we know the rules about acceptable disability.

I use a stick but I’m obviously older and no-one would ever mistake me for young.

my DD also uses a stick and has blue hair, loves plushies and soft toys and has a serious auto immune disorder.

i presume people are suggesting it’s social contagion but honestly I don’t see what’s wrong with using a walking stick.

Agreed. This is a really awful thread!

My daughter has a partial visual impairment due to damage to her optic nerves and so feels vulnerable in crowded places and when it’s busy. She was given a white stick which she can use to hold against her body (not a walking stick) as a sign that she needs more space and she does use it sometimes. It makes very little difference as far as I can see but it does make her feel safer. You wouldn’t know to look at her that she is disabled. So much judgement and ableism on this thread!

Can you explain what the ‘leaning hard’ aspect means? I have never done this on my walking stick in my life

I know. My dad was on the same for his auto immune disease and ballooned up. I’d never judge anyone on their weight at all. Steroids are awful.

I bet nobody ever judged my dad btw. Talk about misogyny. It’s women who are judged

I expect unwell people are more likely to be drawn to bright colours and soft toys and things because life is tough and a lot of time is spent housebound/bed bound.

I spend a fair bit on soft furnishings, accessories, pictures for the walls, flowe delivery, etc because I spend so much time at home. I don't get to do a lot of the things I would love to do. So I will lift my mood in what ever way I like.

Yes, I knew a young, trans person at my DC's Uni who had:

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

Plus largely estranged from their parents 😥

New? They were introduced in 2016

Yes exactly. That was one way in 2016 of showing you have a hidden disability and they were to be taken at face value.

Break down which of these are a choice and which are legitimate protected conditions and I might take you seriously.

I agree with you .

🤯🤯 At mumsnet these days.

A young family member has recently had major surgery and is going about on 2 crutches, only able to partially weight bear through 1 side - they make no difference at all as to how people treat them! No one moves out of the way for them, no one is careful when they walk near or around them. I’m genuinely shocked at people and their inconsiderate attitudes towards those with very obvious physical difficulties.

Some people assume that you must use the stick as you would a crutch - putting all wright on it instead of the leg of that side.

Other, smarter, people know that depending on the reason for the stick depends on the use and it can be anything from additional stability, with no bearing down at all required.

Interesting. A girl I used to babysit for uses one, if in the trans community and posts a lot about disability etc.

Are you saying you think those factors are connected, though? If so, how?

I’m not sure it’s ableism if you’re mocking people who genuinely don’t need a walking aid and just doing it for attention (and using up disabled people’s spaces). So the question is more whether you believe it or not. From these posts, some do and some don’t. No point getting offended either way.

Two crutches is fine, as you can adequately non weight bear or partially weight bear. One crutch, really doesn’t do anything other than get in the way. I’m a physio and we are taught about illness behaviour. This is one of the red flags to identify it.

But the point is always

• they "don't look disabled" (which is ignorant and horrible as many disabilities are invisible)

And/or

• I don't believe that particular illness is real/I think it's all in their head which again, is a really nasty thing to say about conditions that can be very disabling

Interesting because I always feel embarrassed and like I'm being judged for using a stick. Turns out I am!

The people posting about chronically ill fakers on this thread are just scum really. I can try be diplomatic but in my eyes they are also the type to say "i have lots of black friends so i cant be racist" and "i dont have a problem with gay people but why do they have to be so in your face?"

A close relative step daughter has started using an elbow crutch the dad thinks it is a "fad" and ignore it, the girl is a midteen my relative is just bamboozled about the whole thing, how odd are teenagers just identifying as disabled now?

I think, as we all know about social contagion, esp young girls, it’s not unreasonable to be a bit sceptical. No one is saying that someone who does need sticks should be mocked ( but definitely saying someone who’s just playing at disabled SHOULD be)