Riam Dean, a 22-year-old law student, was “banished to the stockroom” of trendy shop Abercrombie and Fitch after they decided that her prosthetic arm didn’t fit with their ”look policy”.
Quite apart from the fact that the whole idea of a look policy is ridiculous, this is a sad example of disabled people being pushed out of the public eye. Riam may not have a learning disability, but the issues are the same for people who do. Disabled people have been kept out of sight, out of mind for years. This story reminds us of recent complaints that a CBeebies children’s TV presenter’s disability might be frightening for children. Unbelievable.
Well, guess what? Disabled people exist and, just like everyone else, they have a lot to contribute. They can be beautiful, cool and sexy. They definitely shouldn’t be made invisible. Try telling BBC’s Britain’s missing top model Kelly that she’s too ugly to work in a shop.
It looks like A&F picked on the wrong person this time, as Riam is suing them for discrimination, but we do wonder how many other people would have just let this pass to save embarrassment. Good luck with the court case Riam, hopefully this will make people think twice in future.
Tags: abercrombie & Fitch, abercrombie and fitch, disability, discrimination, work
this sickens me i will not allow my teenage children ,one of home is handicapped to shop there ever again
Wedny, your comments brought tears to my eyes. I am Riam’s mother. As any mother would, I wished I could take the pain away from her at the time. I thought I prepared her physically to manage and not to let this minor imperfection ever stand in her way. She sang classical at high school in several languages, danced, played music and paints the most beautiful pictures. Always believed that if anyone didn’t accept her it was their problem not ours. Any one of us could loose an arm or a leg in an accident, yet I could never have prepared her for the psychological trauma and damage A&F had inflicted on her during her first ever job at the tender age of 21. She once asked me: is this how its always going to be? Thousands of decent people around the world have answered Riam, no this is not how it’s always going to be. We are so happy that your voices are being heard along with hers.
Thank you.
Wendy, May, thanks for the comments and thanks to everyone who passed this on through twitter.
Riam is obviously a brave young woman and everyone at ENABLE Scotland is glad to see that she has so many supporters throughout the world. Her case has really touched a nerve with so many people who have had similar experiences, and many who have not.
May, please do pass on our best wishes with her court case.