Erica Mones
Bio
Bylines in The Progressive, PopSugar, Well + Good, New Mobility, Rooted in Rights, Audacity Magazine, and Cripple Magazine. Disability and mental health advocate.
Stories (7)
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The Fame Monster: at the Intersection of Celebrity and Mental Health Advocacy
As someone with mental health issues, I recognize the importance of celebrities advocating for treatment and reducing the stigma surrounding psychiatric illnesses. But lately, I’ve been disenfranchised with stars’ performative acts and at times, downright triggering attempts to shed light on mental illness. Stars tend to forget that they have a larger audience than most. They also may be so coddled in a Hollywood bubble that they lose their sense of reality. Most recently, Lady Gaga released an ad for her cosmetic line, Haus Laboratories, that fashioned eyeliner swatches to look like self-harm scars on the inside of the model’s wrists. Dozens of followers commented that they found the image insensitive and triggering. Without apologizing or even acknowledging the harm caused, Haus Laboratories promptly removed the image from their Instagram. In the past, Lady Gaga has advocated for access to mental health treatment and has opened up about her personal struggles with mental health. She even penned an essay for The Guardian about the urgency of suicide prevention for World Mental Health Day in 2018. Of course, this is not the first incident where Gaga was called out for being insensitive about mental illness, and other celebrities have been just as guilty, but this latest instance reveals a deeper pattern of celebrities claiming to advocate for mental health while causing harm to those struggling.
By Erica Mones5 years ago in Psyche
5 Simple Tips to Upgrade Your Style (without breaking the bank!)
I'll admit it--I've been known to watch YouTube videos made by snobbish white able-bodied women that rattle off all the mistakes you may be making with your style. I'm not here to do that. I don't want to tell anyone that their fashion choices are "wrong." Instead, I want to share five small changes I've made in the last year to build my confidence in my style.
By Erica Mones5 years ago in Styled
On Disabilities, Relationships, and Gender Roles
As we have begun defining and redefining gender roles and gender types, now is the perfect time to explore the effects physical disabilities have on sexuality and gender types. Disabled people are often overlooked when people discuss the tensions that arise from stereotypical gender roles, however, trying to fit these societal molds for females and males can be difficult when living with a disability. Indisputably, gender typing impacts everyone: women are told they should not pursue certain careers, men are asked to mask their emotions, and boys and girls are expected to play different sports. Non-binary folks are often dismissed. Disabled people are no exception to this, and yet it is harder for them to meet these expectations. Superficial distinctions between genders are the most obvious culprit of this issue. For instance many disabled women are unable to apply makeup or wear high heels. Men often cannot attain the “ideal” muscle tone due to chronic fatigue or inability to lift weights. Admittedly, these are superficial qualities, yet when searching for a romantic partner or perhaps even a friend, people look for these qualities before seeking out someone who is kind, intelligent, or funny. Yes, people do search for these more substantial qualities too, but one’s physical appearance is more accessible at a glance than one’s personality is. Disabled people are not immune to the desire for companionship, however, they often struggle to find a partner willing to accept them. Disabled men are not typically viewed as masculine and strong and disabled women are not typically viewed as beautiful and feminine.
By Erica Mones5 years ago in Viva
My First Kiss Was in an Elevator
My first kiss was in an elavator. When I read that statement I know I sound like a stereotypical disabled woman. I am twenty-years-old and I have never held someone’s hand; it is difficult to hold hands when I am walking with my loft-strand crutch or driving my wheelchair. I feel a tinge of jealousy every time I see couples holding hands on campus. I always joke that holding hands is gross, but I can’t help but feel like trivial matters like that hinder relationships, like somehow that lessens my value. My life from the outside appears to be assistive devices, bandages, and personal care attendants; at large, it is, but there is also more to me than my disability.
By Erica Mones5 years ago in Humans
Madison Cawthorn Does Not Represent the Disabled Community
When I watched Madison Cawthorn stand up from his wheelchair at the Republican National Convention, I saw a part of myself. I was born with cerebral palsy. I now am a 23-year-old freelance writer with two Bachelor’s degrees: one in Classical Civilizations and the other in Writing. I write mostly about disability and mental health, but that hasn’t always been the case. For years, I struggled unknowingly with internalized ableism. Internalized ableism is when Disabled people (often unconsciously) internalize the biases our society has towards Disabled people. My internalized ableism contributed to a nearly decade-long eating disorder, and made me deny a part of my identity. I now write about mental health and disability unapologetically because I see my disability as an asset instead of a hindrance.
By Erica Mones5 years ago in The Swamp
My Favorite Publications to Work with as a Freelance Writer in 2020
I stumbled into becoming a freelance writer. After graduating college in May 2020, I planned to do a year (or two) of service. However, the pandemic spoiled my plans. Because I couldn't find a job, I decided on a whim to submit some of my pieces to a few publications. I have a Bachelor's degree in Writing and one of my favorite Writing professors encouraged me to get something published. I wasn't so sure my writing was good enough, but I gave it a shot. My first dozen or so pitches were either flat-out rejected or ignored (many publications cannot respond to every submission, which is understandable given the volume of submissions). Although I understand that publications cannot accept every piece sent to them, I still suffered a wounded ego. It hurts when a piece I poured time, energy, and emotions into is turned down. But facing rejection has forced me to be resilient and persistent--both in continuing to write and putting myself out there. Publications aren't going to stumble upon my work, so I constantly have to pitch them.
By Erica Mones5 years ago in Journal
