I went to the movies yesterday. We rushed in, headed to the washroom, and then took our seats. Something felt wrong about the whole experience. I couldn’t place it but something was missing. I pushed that aside because we were at a movie, Wonder Woman, that we had wanted to see a long time. Now was the time and I wanted to enjoy it.
And I did.
(Except did the villain have to be a bitter woman with facial differences? Talk about a group of people stereotyped as scary and evil. Shit.)
Then afterwards we talked to a few people about the movie and left. Again, going through the theatre I felt odd. Something wasn’t right. Something was missing.
Once home I realized that there were no people with disabilities working in the theatre. Not one in a visible role. In my local theatre several people with disabilities hold jobs, a proud young man with Down Syndrome does whatever they do when they come into a theatre and look at something on the wall and leaves. An equally proud woman who does several things, including ripping tickets and directing traffic. I am used to seeing a diverse work force in the theatre.
The theatre I went to clearly had a different hiring policy.
And the sad thing is that those that go to that theatre to watch movies won’t know what’s not there because it isn’t there. People are used to work forces that aren’t inclusive. Because of that they may never ask why people with disabilities aren’t given the chance for jobs there. They can’t protest when they accept prejudice and discrimination as the norm.
Missing and disappeared – that never happens by accident.
