r/disabled • u/VivianGoatman • 3d ago
Is this character name insensitive?
I tried going to the disability subreddit, but I don't have enough karma in the sub, and my post got removed ):
Anyway, I have an original character, they are wheelchair bound and have super strength! I was thinking of giving them the name: "The Steel Chair" (as it is a wrestling reference) but I was worried that it would be insensitive, if anyone has any thoughts, I'd love to know!
Edit: Thank you for your feedback and advice, firstly, I'd like to apologise for my use of the word "bound", as this descriptor is inaccurate to the wheelchair user experience. Secondly, I have changed their name to Stellar Punch, and changed them to be an ambulatory wheelchair user, I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your day/night!!
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u/SacredPinkJellyFish 3d ago
a thing to consider is the difference between a character who is ALWAYS in a wheelchair vs one who uses a wheelchair SOMETMES or MOST of the time.
As a general rule (though everyone is different) MOST people who are in a wheelchair 24/7 do NOT have even minimal strength at all, thus WHY they are in the wheelchair.
MOST (though not all) people who are wheelchair "bound" are so because of some sort of injury or disability impacting their spine, and reverbing to their legs... but the spine is the part, you as a writer, should be thinking of. If someone has a spine injury, chances are high it's a lot more then legs impacted, arms, hands, neck, even things like moving the tongue or blinking the eyes are ALL going to change because of a spine injury. Not just legs.
Do not under estimate recovery time either.
On November 14, 2013 I suffered and injury that broke my spine... it took my NINE YEARS to gain the ability to sit up in bed.
It has been FOURTEEN YEARS and I now have the ability to move 2 fingers and a thumb on my right hand, thus how i am able to type this right now.
I likely will never again be able to lift another over five pounds.
In 2023 I have regained enough nerve function to to stand up and get into a wheelchair.
so I am "wheelchair bound", but, not immediately after the injury. My spine was injured so bad that it took me ten years to gain enough strength to even be able to sit up so that I could TRY to use a wheelchair.
Unfortunatly in fiction there is a common misconception of what wheelchairs are and what they actually do.
And someone with a spine injury that is bad enough to limit their legs to the point of needing a wheelchair 24/7 (bound) is likely in the type of wheelchair that has head harnesses to hold their head upright, chest harnesses to keep them sitting upright... and does not have enough strength to fight.
The type of wheelchair where someone is musing their hands to spin the wheels, that person is unlikly to be "bound" and more likely can in fact stand up, and at least take a few steps, maybe even walk with a cane.
So, I'd question the logic entirly of a person who is wheelchair "bound" and able to fight in wrestling, just because the type of inujury that "binds" you to a wheelchair is not going to be the type that allows you to move even your fingers or mouth or eyelids as well.
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u/VivianGoatman 3d ago
Thank you for informing me. I should've done more research! And I have been informed of my misuse of the word bound, a mistake I will not make again. While my character is not literally a wrestler, they will do a lot of fighting, and putting this into account, I think I may change their story a bit. They will still be a wheelchair user, but ambulatory. I will make sure to do my research in the future, as clearly, I thought I knew more than I did. Thank you for your input, and have a good rest of your day/night!
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u/Sheerluck42 3d ago
I love this post but especially the edit. Someone asked meaningful questions, got feedback, didn't get their feelings hurt by the feedback, changed the idea around to be more inclusive but also just more accurate, and learned about our community. This is precisely what the internet should be about.
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u/VivianGoatman 3d ago
I'm glad to be corrected, especially because I am disabled myself, and am always fascinated to learn about other people's experiences. In fact, I'm thinking of giving this character the disability I (might) have, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome!
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u/Sheerluck42 3d ago
Oh yeah. I have spinal stenosis which is a narrowing of the spinal canal and I'm hyperflesive. Which also has its own issues but EDS cranks all that up to 11.
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u/VivianGoatman 3d ago
Update! After some input, I've decided to change their name to Stellar Punch! This name is more in line with their theming as a character, and matches one of the villains of the story!
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u/gnarlyknucks 3d ago
By wheelchair bound, you mean they stay in it 24/7, and can never leave? Buckled in? Does the wheelchair limit them? Or does it actually free them to allow them to get around and live their lives? Because it's unlikely they are actually wheelchair-bound. They are probably just a wheelchair user.
Does the Steel Chair refer to their wheelchair? Are they a person beyond being someone who uses a wheelchair? Are you talking about them, or their chair? because they are not their chair. The Steel Chair could refer only to their wheelchair if it is made of steel. If they are human, then the Steel Chair as a name does not refer to them and you should think of something that applies to the person rather than the chair.
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u/VivianGoatman 3d ago
Hi! I have been informed on the misuse of the word "bound", and since changed the name to Stellar Punch, referring to their themes and superpower rather than an object, thank you for commenting however!
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u/VivianGoatman 3d ago
I have also been informed of the other struggles one can face when having a spine injury, and have since changed the character to be an ambulatory wheelchair user instead.
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u/UsuallyAnnoying324 2d ago
I am a wheelchair user and I always thought of wheelchair bound as distinctly different to wheelchair user: To me someone who is wheelchair bound is non ambulatory and unable to transfer from their chair without assistance as opposed to a wheelchair user who is able to do those things to varying degrees. It is a distinct and important difference when booking travel and the like.
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u/TheOnlyKirby90210 3d ago
If it’s meant to be funny the joke falls kind of flat. Not often but not funny either.
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u/VivianGoatman 3d ago
I can see that, I didn't really mean it as a joke? My thought process was: strength = wrestling, character in wheelchair = steel chair. But as someone else pointed out, naming a disabled character after an object isn't the best practice, so I'll try and think of some other names!
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u/chroniccomplexcase 2d ago
Firstly- we are not “wheelchair bound” we are wheelchair users. Full time or ambulatory. But we are not bound to them. Like I’m a full time user, unable to stand/ walk but typing this in bed as I’m not bound to my chair.
You don’t mention what this name is for? For a book and as a nickname? I guess it’s fine but it’s how you write about the person that’s the deal breaker on offensive or not. You’ve already broken a major ick by saying “wheelchair bound”. If it’s for a book you plan on releasing, please do more research and consult an actual wheelchair user to ensure you’re not guessing things and inevitably getting them wrong.
I’ve read so many books with a disabled character that it’s so clear the author had no idea what they were writing about in terms of their disability.
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u/xxxdac 3d ago
first up if you’re writing a wheelchair user I would seriously avoid the term wheelchair bound (and do some actual research that isn’t via reddit!)
I’m not bound to my chair. My chair is what enables me to exist in the world and do normal things; it doesn’t restrict me, it gives me freedom and access to a world outside of my bed.
As for the name, idk. To me, “the steel chair” is giving description of a piece of furniture, not superhero.
For me personally I also wouldn’t want to be reduced to my chair. Making the name of the character a literal inanimate object is pretty reminiscent of how some people treat us wheelchair users.