Actress Jamie Brewer of “American Horror Story” became the first model with Down syndrome to appear on the runway in New York Fashion Week ?on Feb. 12.
While this represents a laudable move toward greater inclusiveness in the fashion industry, a cynic would point out that her appearance could likely be nothing more than a publicity stunt. Even worse, it’s possible she shouldn’t even be called a model at all, since it was a philanthropic event and not a traditional fashion show.
Our expectations of these media schemes have become so great that, often, we immediately assume an event such as this is truly nothing more than a publicity stunt. Even more so, we assume people with mental disabilities cannot function in the normal echelons of society and therefore, in the end, this is charity — any form of charity by large organizations “has” to be self-serving.
It is no surprise we think this way. Consider any foundation that helps achieve the dreams of the weakened — the people who are physically or mentally disabled — implying they need a charitable foundation in order for these to happen.
Also, take into account how oil companies often donate large sums of money to aquariums or zoos. It is seen as inadequate compensation to make up for the realities of oil spills or ?habitat destruction.
The Editorial Board is curious why we place so much emphasis on the impossibilities of a girl with Down syndrome, or anyone for that matter, to become a model. Certainly, there are physical qualifications one must have. But a career as a model is enticing, even though it’s nothing more than acting as a strutting coat hanger when viewing the job objectively. There is the glamorous lifestyle, but it’s more than likely the career makes the lifestyle, not the other way around.
Much of the appeal and the status has to do with sexualization of entertainment. Since a girl with Down syndrome doesn’t fit the picture of the American-idealized woman (often white, size 0 and heterosexual), it is impossible for her to access that sphere. It seems like natural discrimination, similar to an unathletic person attempting to make it to the Olympics without the years of effort.
Except, in this case, the people going to the Olympics are chosen not for their skills, but for a set of completely subjective characteristics. Then the people demonstrating these subjective characteristics are chosen almost exclusively and are selected at a far greater proportion.
Perhaps it’s a case of serendipity that Jamie Brewer, whose character in the first season of “American Horror Story” only wanted to be pretty, ended up on the catwalk. Then again, maybe it was no coincidence at all and this is, just as we feared, a publicity stunt. The world may never know.
