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Let's be clear here, I am not suggesting wheelchair users are not attractive, sexy or fabulous to look at, or that they should not want to be - hey, we are as unrealistically aspirational as everyne else! I am saying that a huge proportion of us have to deal with physical difficulties that render conformist, stereotypical, female imagery totally redundant. For this site to ignore that reality is just depressing. Add a wheelchair, and we are just like everyone else, huh! If that were so, would we need a Wheeliechix site at all?
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Surely the real challenge for most wheelchair users is in finding stylish products to meet our exceptional needs and to make that look good? For example, masses of wheelchair users are incontinent – wearing not so much a thong as a nappy…and not a stylish one at that! What would really impress me, as one wheelchair user to another, is if Wheeliechix had found incontinence pants that look as if some design aesthetic had been applied... with matching bra, if you must; or a strap-on urine bag – I have no idea what these are called but they are damn ugly! - with a stylish design and colour option; or support stockings in something other than bright white; and, believe me, I could go on…
My conflict when I look at this site arises because I genuinely appreciate the effort it takes to launch something like Wheeliechix - the idea, the organisation, the finance, bravery and the chutzpah to pull it into existence at all. As well, Louisa has generated a lot of coverage for the site - again, so admirable. I have worked in start up ventures and it is always tough to develop and evolve an idea into a profitable business. I'd rather help Louisa than be destructive or negative but how? I wonder how much research she has done or what kind of vision and business plan she has?
What an opportunity our market presents to celebrate individuality and make difference stylish and sexy. A challenge not addressed at the moment by Wheeliechix. Instead, the Wheeliechix site seems to direct our aspirations towards that clichéd stereotype of the perfect body in scanty undies, pouting at a camera - a salacious wheelie titbit for some fetishist to get his rocks off. So disappointing. I want to admire Wheeliechix for what it is and what it does but, for now, I just cannot. Feel free to disagree or contact me for more!
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