I used to be a Glee fan in high school, though not to the same extent as most Glee fans were or are. I can’t even remember what the first two seasons were about, except that I cringed much less frequently than I do at the show now. My memories are very hazy, but when I think of Becky Jackson, the cheerleader with Down’s Syndrome, I remember liking her character. I remember thinking she was funny, intelligent, but a little bit neglected by the writers. The Becky I see in episodes now is such a drastic change from the character I remember. I try to pretend that it’s because Becky gained some confidence in her few years in high school and that’s why she’s so self-assured, but something about her character now really rubs me the wrong way.

I don’t watch Glee as much as I used to, but in the few episodes I have recently watched, she has called someone a bitch or a bee-otch at least once in every episode. Some people find characters calling each other bitches is funny, and it’s everywhere in our culture so it doesn’t come as a huge shock. What DOES shock me is that when she calls someone a bitch, it isn’t like a neurotypical girl calling another girl a bitch because she’s, you know, being a huge mean brat. When Becky calls someone a bitch, our laughter isn’t because someone got called a bitch. It’s because Becky, the girl with Down’s Syndrome, is calling someone a bitch, and that is funny. The situations are set up so that Becky’s actions are perceived as ridiculous antics, and she becomes the source of entertainment. The Down’s Syndrome girl calling someone a bitch is hilarious I guess. I find it a little disturbing how often Becky swearing and insulting someone is the joke.

Lauren Potter, Becky’s actress, consented to this role, so she’s fully aware of her lines and her role. I don’t think though that just because she is okay with it that I should be okay with it too. It makes me uncomfortable how Becky seems to exist solely as an outrageous character. I think we ought to see more than “heck yeah bee-otch” out of Becky. Again, I haven’t watched the show in a while so I don’t know if Becky is getting more screen time, or is growing as a character. So far I’ve only seen one side of Becky this past season, and it’s been a side I’m completely disappointed in. What are the writers doing with this character? Why does she have so many scenes where the point of her character being present is so she can say something ridiculous and then swear? Why, Glee? Why?!

I feel like I could have put a little more thought into why she bugs me, but Becky Jackson’s characterization rubs me a million wrong ways. Hopefully someone here can help me put into words why I feel like Becky Jackson’s character is suffering. You know, besides her presence as a joke, and arguably as a token disabled character. Please help me.