Spoons
| Synonyms: | |
| See also: | Ableism in Fandom, Social Justice |
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Spoons originated as a way to refer to limited physical, mental and emotional resources as a result of illness or disability. The Spoon Theory was first described and named by lupus patient Christine Miserandino at ButYouDontLookSick.com.
The term was introduced to the wider fannish community during RaceFail in posts such as inalasahl's Because There Aren't Enough Spoons on the Planet. Some people feel that the use of "spoons" by other groups is appropriative. Willow suggested forks as an alternative to spoons for people "dealing with the mental and physical social handicaps of not being white."[1]
Some people, unaware of the origins of the word, have taken to using spoons in contexts that disabled fans object to (for example, "running that marathon used up all my spoons.")[2]
References
- ^ Forks, Archived version (Accessed May 13, 2010)
- ^ Comments on spoons? (Accessed May 13, 2010)