Lovely Video and the Disabled Body

My body is unique. My left hip dislocated 40 years ago and as a result my left leg is about two inches shorter than my right. I have a severe scoliosis and thoracic spinal fusion. The skin on my back is distinguished by faded long rail road track surgical scars. My curved spine is not getting worse but it certainly is cork screwing my body to the right as I age. There is not a single symmetrical part of my body. I am all odd curves and mismatching body parts. When I swim or simply take off my shirt people stare at me. I do not mean a passing stare but flat out rude prolonged stare. I do not feel like a freak but many strangers think this. The irony to me is I am in very good physical shape. I am slender--a whopping 143 pounds. I am strong--strong in the sense I am built for endurance and long handcycle rides. Put me in a weight room and I will become instantly bored and capable of lifting little weight compared to other men. I am a man of motion. Movement is a constant.

I am pleased with my body. It has served me well. I hope to die with a battered body, one that was used to its fullest extent. I rail against physical loss as I age. Getting from floor to wheelchair was once a simple process when my son was a boy is now exceptionally difficult. I suspect my hearing is getting bad. I tire more easily as steep hills take me a while to get up.  All in all though I have fared well. This thought process is out of the norm. Many people with disabilities struggle with their body image. I get this. Our bodies are perceived as deformed or defective and are routinely medicalized. Here is where I really depart from the norm. I find disabled bodies attractive. Culture is inscribed on our bodies. I have seen many disabled bodies. I find scoliosis fascinating. I see a man or woman shirtless with a profound scoliosis from behind and think their body is gorgeous. A profound scoliosis is  akin to a tree that has grown in an unusual fashion due to environmental variables. I find amputees and the residual limb equally interesting. All disabled bodies have an element of beauty to me. This point was reinforced today when I saw the below video.



I love this video.  According to the Huffington Post the video was created by Pro Infirmis. What resonated with me was how much the people with a disability enjoyed the process of having their body duplicated in mannequin form. Even better was the fact the mannequins were put in store windows in Zurich to celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I do not care one iota about the reactions to the mannequins by the general public that walked by. I experience those sort of reactions daily. I care about the people with a disability that got to celebrate and enjoy their body. This is all too rare. Remarkably, I even like the title of the video: "Because Who is Perfect? Get Closer". No human is perfect. No body is without flaws. Like the other people in this video my body is simply different. In that difference I see great beauty. I wish others thought the same way.