When you look in your closet how many favorite shirts do you have? How many favorite stores do you shop at when your looking for new outfits? You may not realize how lucky you are to even have a favorite outfit or store to go to.

The reality of many adults with disabilities is the obstacles and embarrassment they face when trying to find clothes that suit their body type. We recently saw on the movie “Murderball” a brief excerpt of one of the men attempting to change his pants while sitting in a wheelchair. The struggle to coordinate his body movements to take off his pants was discouraging to watch.

Who is Mindy Scheier?

Minda Scheire is a mother of a disabled son who was confined to a wheelchair due his debilitating rare form of muscular dystrophy. Shopping in the mall was an obstacle that was becoming increasingly draining and unmanageable over time. After experiencing the daily struggle’s with her son to get him dressed in the morning before school and watching his disappointment as his favorite jeans slowly became impossible to fit over his braces, she knew something had to be done.

Schiere understood the importance of clothing and how it could influence a person’s overall confidence. Come to find out, scientists have even developed a name for this called “enclosed cognitive recognition which refers to the symbolic meaning of clothing and the physical experience of wearing the clothing, that have a direct correlation on how you feel about yourself” (Ted Talk, 2017).

It took a lot of time and research to understand what needed to be changed to make clothing adaptable to the “differently-abled.” She located a foundation that supported mainstream fashion called The Runway of Dreams. Her contributions to this clothing line has developed modified clothing to alter closures (buttons, snaps) and replace them with magnets, waistbands were now made with elastic and she created various ways to put on the clothing that differs from the traditional way.

Her creativity and willingness to educate the fashion industry created a social space for people with disabilities to be included. The disadvantages and restrictions that Tom Shakespeare discusses in “The Social model of disability” dealt heavily with the exclusion of people with disabilities. The structure of the fashion industry only targeted the “normal” functioning population. We need more likeminded people similar to Minda Shiere who are willing to go the extra mile to limit the isolation that people with disabilities experience and include them in mainstream social activities, such as shopping, that Shakespeare describes.

Caitlyn Jenner’s shocking transformation was no secret in the industry as it spilled into the tabloids and the media. As a public figure, olympic medalist and father she was in the lime light and had to endure a mass amount of public judgement. As spade discussed sex reassignment surgery has a lot to do with the desire to meet “gender-coded structures” by transgender individuals Caitlyn Jenner has reached her goal. These structures are only defined by what our culture considers normal.

We all know the Kardashian and their glam life style. They portray themselves as being flawlessly and effortlessly perfect. This transformation brought reality into perspective for them and for all of their fans. The perfect family image wasn’t so perfect anymore.

Caitlyn went under a series of surgeries including sex-reassignment surgery. I think it is important to understand that her status and financial resources had the ultimate decision in her ability to make such a drastic transformation.

As Caitlyn discussed in some of her interviews post-transition she discloses that she had felt this way for a very long time. I think Spade made a valid point when she stated that transgenders are very invested “in dichotomous gender categories” and being able to identify with their true self-identity.

I don’t think there was any perfect time for Caitlyn Jenner to make this transition, but I think It was important that the Kardashians went through this publicly on television and social media to show the world that there is no such thing as being perfect.

Related Material: Caitlyn Jenner, The Secrets of My Life

Transgender has become much more common today than it was ever publicly recognized in the past. I am a lucky friend of a very unique individual. My experience with her has shaped my belief and attitudes towards the LGBTQ community and how I treat people today. This narrative surrounds the experience of he who is she, a very brave individual.

Growing up my best friend looked like your ordinary young boy, except that she liked to do everything I liked to do as a young girl such as jump roping and playing with hula hoops. I was only 8 at this time and I did not think twice about it I thought it was great! However nearing the end of elementary school our classmates began to pick on her. A defining moment I remember was when someone asked her if she was GAP (gay and proud). I didn’t know what this meant so when I went home and later asked my sister and my mother who then told me. My mother sternly told me that she is my friend and that everyone deserves respect. I didn’t understand what she meant until years later.

The summer before 6th grade my friend began switching up her style of clothing to resemble my girly outfits. At this time she disclosed to me that she was gay and I simply said okay. The unspoken subject becoming spoken was a strong moment in our friendship. This was a very dear secret to her that she thought no-one knew, even though they did. I vowed to never disclose her secret until she was ready.

Throughout high school she was teased and when she went through her dark times, I almost felt like I did too. During out 9th grade year is when he began referring to himself as she. I think this gave her more power and the ability regulate herself within the public eye. In Susan Strykes article when she describes her feelings, “I can never be a woman like other women, but I could never be a man,” I think she speaks for herself and the transgender community as a whole. My friends was often conflicted on how she should portray herself and what was defined as “too much”, but I encouraged her to be herself. We would go shopping together, try on different kinds of makeup and even stroll through the jewelry and hair shops. I believe it was the inclusion of me and our close friends group that helped her to feel less like a the “monster within” that Strykes describes and allowed her to move more freely.

Today she has gone through hormone replacement therapy and fully identifies herself as a young woman. Many people can’t tell the difference but when they do you can see the looks and hear the whispers of their confusion or disgust. I commend her for always being the bigger person and learning how to not take it too personally, even though after all it is very personal.

When Foucalt discusses his theory of power. I believe that the idea of there being other forms of gender identities within our society threatens our understanding of males and females socially, culturally and politically. This is a very debatable topic but I encourage you to educate yourselves. For instance what do you think about transgenders using public bathrooms, or dressing rooms? Should there be restrictions or acceptance of this type of access? Is it because of the unknown, what if they were a friend or family member?

I think Transgender needs to be assessed in a different way other than as a disorder in order for it to be perceived differently.

To learn more about Transgender and their personal experiences please watch “How To talk (and listen) to transgender people”.

Are you consumed by social media? Media today has become a frenzy. Beyond the communication aspect the latest “alarming trend” described in an article published in the Washington Post describes the cyberculture as a new phenomenon not only for the “selfie-takers” but as a booming commodity on the rise for doctors and the plastic surgery market. A recent survey disclosed that “Americans spent an estimated 16 billion on cosmetically surgeries” alone.