How 'Fitness Culture' Promotes Harmful Disability Stereotypes

Not all bodies are the same. When fitness culture promotes that all bodies can get fit, that all bodies can do certain exercises, they are promoting ableist ideas. I see this on fitness pages, in fitness gyms, the classes that are promoted, and in the whole culture surrounding exercise. They promote this idea that anyone can get fit and if you don’t you are lazy and unmotivated.

Yes, some people with disabilities are athletes and do wheelchair racing, CrossFit or martial arts. But let me remind you we are all different. Not everyone can go to the gym. Not all disabled people have the same energy; we don’t have the same conditions. So how can fitness pages and gyms, etc. sit back and say that “everyone” can get fit if they try?

Just getting through the day tires me out. I don’t have the energy to work out; that’s not because I’m “lazy” and it’s not an excuse. I would love to see a pushback in the culture and see more workarounds for those with disabilities. Workout classes that are slower paced, disabled bodies of all kinds (invisible and visible) shown in fitness. Disabled bodies need to be represented in everything more, including fitness.

Let’s get some fitness blogs out there for disabled cuties. Our bodies may be different, but they are still relevant and they are still beautiful.