Anne Hathaways 3 fingered character in Witches upsets people with disabilities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a DS with disabilities who is now in high school. I've also got 2 older children in high school who are typical. I can't tell you the number of times peers of my older kids have lashed out at them using slurs about their younger brother with disabilities. My DS is smart, sweet, kind and has never been mean or insulting to another person in his life. Yet, these kids will mock his physical aspects, disparage things he did in ELEMENTARY school and fling 'special education' out as the worst type of insult. These are 'good' kids from 'good' families that go to 'good' schools and are 'good' students/athletes.

The lack of consideration for the disability community is astounding. There is no excuse for making the character in this film a 3-fingered witch. None. If you were to substitute race or religion for disability, no so-called 'legal' person on the side of TV or film would allow it to pass. Could you imagine what would happen if the film highlighted the witch as being a POC or a Muslim or Jew? Why is disability any different? It is not enough to apologize for doing this. There needs to be an examination of the failures that allowed it to happen - not just in this particular film but in the entire industry. This film is just the latest example.

Ummm...they aren’t claiming the witch has a disability. And do you even watch movies or tv? POC, Muslim and Jews along with white, Hispanic and every other race, religion and culture has been used as a villain.

[Anonymous]

Too many people want to play the victim card. As a parent of a child with polydactyly, this doesn’t bother me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a DS with disabilities who is now in high school. I've also got 2 older children in high school who are typical. I can't tell you the number of times peers of my older kids have lashed out at them using slurs about their younger brother with disabilities. My DS is smart, sweet, kind and has never been mean or insulting to another person in his life. Yet, these kids will mock his physical aspects, disparage things he did in ELEMENTARY school and fling 'special education' out as the worst type of insult. These are 'good' kids from 'good' families that go to 'good' schools and are 'good' students/athletes.

The lack of consideration for the disability community is astounding. There is no excuse for making the character in this film a 3-fingered witch. None. If you were to substitute race or religion for disability, no so-called 'legal' person on the side of TV or film would allow it to pass. Could you imagine what would happen if the film highlighted the witch as being a POC or a Muslim or Jew? Why is disability any different? It is not enough to apologize for doing this. There needs to be an examination of the failures that allowed it to happen - not just in this particular film but in the entire industry. This film is just the latest example.

Ummm...they aren’t claiming the witch has a disability. And do you even watch movies or tv? POC, Muslim and Jews along with white, Hispanic and every other race, religion and culture has been used as a villain.

They don't need to 'claim' the witch has a disability. They don't have to since the depiction of her hands says it all. I don't know where you've been for the last 10 years but it is now recognized that people are not evil because of the race/religion. The films position is that these evil witches can be recognized by their hands. How is that different than a story line that says can recognize the evil people because they're black or Jewish or Mulism? There is a difference between that and depiction of an evil person that happens to be black or Jewish or Muslim - not all black or Muslim or Jewish people are evil, just that one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a DS with disabilities who is now in high school. I've also got 2 older children in high school who are typical. I can't tell you the number of times peers of my older kids have lashed out at them using slurs about their younger brother with disabilities. My DS is smart, sweet, kind and has never been mean or insulting to another person in his life. Yet, these kids will mock his physical aspects, disparage things he did in ELEMENTARY school and fling 'special education' out as the worst type of insult. These are 'good' kids from 'good' families that go to 'good' schools and are 'good' students/athletes.

The lack of consideration for the disability community is astounding. There is no excuse for making the character in this film a 3-fingered witch. None. If you were to substitute race or religion for disability, no so-called 'legal' person on the side of TV or film would allow it to pass. Could you imagine what would happen if the film highlighted the witch as being a POC or a Muslim or Jew? Why is disability any different? It is not enough to apologize for doing this. There needs to be an examination of the failures that allowed it to happen - not just in this particular film but in the entire industry. This film is just the latest example.

Ummm...they aren’t claiming the witch has a disability. And do you even watch movies or tv? POC, Muslim and Jews along with white, Hispanic and every other race, religion and culture has been used as a villain.

They don't need to 'claim' the witch has a disability. They don't have to since the depiction of her hands says it all. I don't know where you've been for the last 10 years but it is now recognized that people are not evil because of the race/religion. The films position is that these evil witches can be recognized by their hands. How is that different than a story line that says can recognize the evil people because they're black or Jewish or Mulism? There is a difference between that and depiction of an evil person that happens to be black or Jewish or Muslim - not all black or Muslim or Jewish people are evil, just that one.

It’s a costume. The character isn’t portrayed as having a disability. And just bc that one character in a movie is evil doesn’t mean people with disabilities are evil. Especially since it isn’t portrayed as a disability. See how that works. The witches hands are portrayed in a way to show the effect of their discomfort with gloves. Same way they are portrayed bald and wear wigs which give them rashes.

[Anonymous]

Why does it matter to any of you that something which did not caused you offense did, in fact, offend someone else?

Why do you feel that you are the arbiter of what should and should not offend someone else?

What does it matter to you how the people who were actually involved with the film chose to react and respond?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does it matter to any of you that something which did not caused you offense did, in fact, offend someone else?

Why do you feel that you are the arbiter of what should and should not offend someone else?

What does it matter to you how the people who were actually involved with the film chose to react and respond?

Same reason it matters to you and other posters to tell those not offended to stop rolling their eyes and that they should indeed be offended. Hence, discussion. Don’t want to discuss? Then don’t post. Simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a DS with disabilities who is now in high school. I've also got 2 older children in high school who are typical. I can't tell you the number of times peers of my older kids have lashed out at them using slurs about their younger brother with disabilities. My DS is smart, sweet, kind and has never been mean or insulting to another person in his life. Yet, these kids will mock his physical aspects, disparage things he did in ELEMENTARY school and fling 'special education' out as the worst type of insult. These are 'good' kids from 'good' families that go to 'good' schools and are 'good' students/athletes.

The lack of consideration for the disability community is astounding. There is no excuse for making the character in this film a 3-fingered witch. None. If you were to substitute race or religion for disability, no so-called 'legal' person on the side of TV or film would allow it to pass. Could you imagine what would happen if the film highlighted the witch as being a POC or a Muslim or Jew? Why is disability any different? It is not enough to apologize for doing this. There needs to be an examination of the failures that allowed it to happen - not just in this particular film but in the entire industry. This film is just the latest example.

Ummm...they aren’t claiming the witch has a disability. And do you even watch movies or tv? POC, Muslim and Jews along with white, Hispanic and every other race, religion and culture has been used as a villain.

They don't need to 'claim' the witch has a disability. They don't have to since the depiction of her hands says it all. I don't know where you've been for the last 10 years but it is now recognized that people are not evil because of the race/religion. The films position is that these evil witches can be recognized by their hands. How is that different than a story line that says can recognize the evil people because they're black or Jewish or Mulism? There is a difference between that and depiction of an evil person that happens to be black or Jewish or Muslim - not all black or Muslim or Jewish people are evil, just that one.

It’s a costume. The character isn’t portrayed as having a disability. And just bc that one character in a movie is evil doesn’t mean people with disabilities are evil. Especially since it isn’t portrayed as a disability. See how that works. The witches hands are portrayed in a way to show the effect of their discomfort with gloves. Same way they are portrayed bald and wear wigs which give them rashes.

shm I can only imagine how frustrating and disappointed your children feel when they try to show you how your willful ignorance is hurtful and damaging. I hold hope that, someday, you will regret your choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a DS with disabilities who is now in high school. I've also got 2 older children in high school who are typical. I can't tell you the number of times peers of my older kids have lashed out at them using slurs about their younger brother with disabilities. My DS is smart, sweet, kind and has never been mean or insulting to another person in his life. Yet, these kids will mock his physical aspects, disparage things he did in ELEMENTARY school and fling 'special education' out as the worst type of insult. These are 'good' kids from 'good' families that go to 'good' schools and are 'good' students/athletes.

The lack of consideration for the disability community is astounding. There is no excuse for making the character in this film a 3-fingered witch. None. If you were to substitute race or religion for disability, no so-called 'legal' person on the side of TV or film would allow it to pass. Could you imagine what would happen if the film highlighted the witch as being a POC or a Muslim or Jew? Why is disability any different? It is not enough to apologize for doing this. There needs to be an examination of the failures that allowed it to happen - not just in this particular film but in the entire industry. This film is just the latest example.

Ummm...they aren’t claiming the witch has a disability. And do you even watch movies or tv? POC, Muslim and Jews along with white, Hispanic and every other race, religion and culture has been used as a villain.

They don't need to 'claim' the witch has a disability. They don't have to since the depiction of her hands says it all. I don't know where you've been for the last 10 years but it is now recognized that people are not evil because of the race/religion. The films position is that these evil witches can be recognized by their hands. How is that different than a story line that says can recognize the evil people because they're black or Jewish or Mulism? There is a difference between that and depiction of an evil person that happens to be black or Jewish or Muslim - not all black or Muslim or Jewish people are evil, just that one.

It’s a costume. The character isn’t portrayed as having a disability. And just bc that one character in a movie is evil doesn’t mean people with disabilities are evil. Especially since it isn’t portrayed as a disability. See how that works. The witches hands are portrayed in a way to show the effect of their discomfort with gloves. Same way they are portrayed bald and wear wigs which give them rashes.

shm I can only imagine how frustrating and disappointed your children feel when they try to show you how your willful ignorance is hurtful and damaging. I hold hope that, someday, you will regret your choices.

I imagine your children are constantly rolling their eyes at their mom bending over backwards to find offense in everything. They probably constantly have to explain, deep breathes mom, not everyone is out to hurt you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a physical deformity involving my feet. Nobody really knows because it’s easy to cover up with shoes. If a movie character was made up to have feet like mine, I would be extremely upset. And I’m 42 years old. To imagine how a child would feel seeing this? Just awful.

The witches in the original book have square feet (fused or no toes)

Well, great. I won’t be watching it.

[Anonymous]

Title of this thread shows why hyphens are important

[Anonymous]

Lolololol
This thread....classic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too many people want to play the victim card. As a parent of a child with polydactyly, this doesn’t bother me.

As a disabled adult, reading a thread full of troublesome comments, it's comments like this one that bother me the most. We need the voices for disability advocacy to be disabled voices, and not be the parents and caregivers of disabled individuals. Your experience as a caregiver is important, but it is different than our lived experiences. It is dangerous for the parents of disabled children to continue to "speak for" their children as surrogate "authorities" on disabled experiences and perspectives. It may not bother you Parent, but it may very likely bother your child. Please leave room for them to have space for their feelings too. Hopefully, without knowing yours to influence them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too many people want to play the victim card. As a parent of a child with polydactyly, this doesn’t bother me.

More importantly though, does it bother your child? Your opinions are irrelevant here; the people with the condition have a say about this. Even as a mother, you’re blind to a lot of things your child suffers.

[Anonymous]

I wasn't sure what to think and then I saw the pictures. It looks exactly like a real disability.

I can't believe people are defending this. You are just wrong here. I'm definitely not watching the movie and I don't think the apology from Hathaway was sufficient.

Years from now this movie won't be shown because of the problematic portrayal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too many people want to play the victim card. As a parent of a child with polydactyly, this doesn’t bother me.

WTF? I can't imagine (as a mother of a special needs child) why you would feel your opinion matters. You aren't the person of interest here.