Today I did an interview with Jon Faine and Sally Warharft on ABC Melbourne. The purpose of the conversation was to demystify microaggressions that I (and other disabled people) face regularly.
I think the interview demonstrates the microaggressions I face regularly. Sally invited me on the show after seeing me speak at the Wheeler Centre last month, and told me she is mystified and disappointed by aspects of today’s conversation.
I am… still processing.
I feel I did a good job, even when Jon Faine suggested my face would be good at Halloween (I have written about that issue here), even when he asked me whether I can have sex, even with him justifying unwanted prayers, and even with his reducing of me to a medical condition.
I work (unpaid) with ABC Radio regularly. I love it and am so grateful – and hope for more opportunities. I was genuinely nervous about the interview this morning, mostly about the power imbalance when discussing the subject matter. Today was really hard, and I expected to be treated better. I felt supported by Sally and I know she didn’t want to speak over me. (And a big shoutout to listener Jenny who talked about her discomfort on air.)
Here is a Twitter thread summary and commentary by Jess Walton that acts in lieu of a transcript.
Here are some blog posts I’ve written on microaggressions:
What if I asked you whether you can have sex?
My face scared my cleaner away
Girl looks at me and won’t sit near me
Update: Jon Faine has made an apology on his radio show on Thursday 29 June, for which I’m appreciative of. I welcome further discussion with him. The apology is here.
Did this post help you or make you think? Will you use it in your workplace or classroom? Please consider buying me a drink to say thanks!
Carly, congratulations on your interview. I don’t know why Jon was so horrible to you, so rude. Good on you for handing it back to him. Alison.
She exercised her power in a different way – what’s the problem?
Why didn’t she handle it the right way?
Why should she have litigated the issue there when she was trying to get across things other than that?
As for being told that it’s your opinion and you’re entitled to it. Thanks for that – very helpful. I was trying to discuss the ADEQUACY of your opinion, not your entitlement to have it.
Some people are ignorant but most people are sympathetic and have manners. Some aspects of human behaviour are impossible to police. Life is a cruel business a sense of humour the only defence. And of course you are free to tell someone who is rude to fuck off.
Jon just demonstrated why you needed to talk about what you were there to talk about….which complete ignorance on his part.
Well done for maintaining your poise and dignity and message!
As someone mentioned on Twitter, the question ‘What is it with Asians’ is still being asked. I cannot see the difference in the level of offensiveness between that question and some of the questions you were asked today.
You’re just not very well liked in the industry and Jon and others find you an entitled nightmare. You don’t advocate or petition for change, you self-promote and upset people. You do it all the time and then cry that you’re a victim. Those of us in the media have seen how you step over people and use them. Maybe have a look at how people have stepped away from you in the past year and see what it means.
Are you sh1tting me? Listen here bullying troll, you clearly know nothing, NOTHING, about what it means to be a REAL advocate and activist for disability issues and people like you and your mate Jon are a very significant part of the problem. We are fed up with media hacks treating us like a sensational headline with the expectation that we have to be freely available for every interview you fail at doing appropriately. We don’t need you. We’ve stepped away from you, not the other way around.
Emma regardless of what you or Jon or anyone else in the media *may* think of Carly, Jon’s questioning was highly intrusive, inappropriate and displayed a high level of ableism. I’ve heard Jon speaking with people he quite obviously dislikes (this is every second person he speaks with) and I am familiar with the patronizing and aggressive tone he regularly adopts (it’s why I stopped listening years ago). He adopted this tone when telling Carly how she should experience her experience of unsolicited public prayers (in this context, his patronizing is ablesplanning). However, I’ve never heard him (1) ask an invited guest why they are on his show, (2) ask someone to justify their disability because they are not in a wheelchair, (3) ask someone to describe their physical appearance in great detail then provide his own description of their appearance (a burns victim), (4) ask someone if they can have sex, or (5) ask someone what is the worst question a stranger has ever asked them then asked them this question. He would never have asked these questions of an able-bodied “entitled nightmare”. These were deeply personal insults based on disability. It’s sickening.
Not very well like in the Industry against all the others who are so well liked? Bwah ha, You could count them on 1 hand also.
Emma, it’s pretty tough and big of you to go on a person’s website and slag them off. Feel like a big person now?
Rule #1 in life – dont be a dick.
Emma, you say you’re in the media… what media outlet? This is a pretty nasty, personal comment so it’d be good to know what outlet employs bullies like you so we can avoid it!
I think Jon Faine is fantastic. Compassionate, caring, kind, I listen to him every single day. I’m sorry you were offended, having listened to Jon every single day I know he would never dream of upsetting anyone. Peace.
I can understand the need for context, however, that inquiry into your disability went well beyond what was needed to establish a contextual understanding of your expertise on the subject. The ‘treatment options’ bit made me cringe.
Still, you did really well and I enjoyed listening to you. Best wishes and disability solidarity.
This was just bloody awful. Ms Findlay, I’m so sorry you had to put up with such ignorant rudeness. Faine was tone-deaf, offensive, arrogant. I don’t know how you managed to stay so calm and polite, I would have lost my temper.
It sounded to me as if Sally Warharft was appalled and trying to pull the segment back into some semblance of respectful discourse, so kudos to her for that, at least.
Thank you for the lessons in how non-disabled people can get over their privilege and assumptions; I learnt from you, and will make a point of following your writing.
Billy shut up. You sound like a dick.
Credit to you for including the audio on your page, but I’m a bit disappointed that you present the linked twitter as anything like a ‘transcript’.
Jessica’s twitter feed may reflect her reactions to the interview, but in no way read like a transcript. Even the traditional “tell me why are you here?” opening question to the segment is met with an aggressive critics of Jon. Regrettably Fairfax has now picked up the story, including the (discriminatory) suggestion that Jon is a creature that belongs in bygone age.
I thought you presented well, although a little intolerant of people afflicted by religious tendencies. Jon did his job of helping the rest of us understand context of the topic, and you made us feel silly for the questions we can’t help but wonder about.
Don’t let Jessica’s reaction make you doubt the interview. It will help people who don’t already ‘get it’ understand your perspective.
Just listened to it. Typical old, white man making offensive comments. He’s an embarrassment to the ABC. You handled the questions with grace and articulateness, kudos for speaking out about your experience.
Some people are ignorant but most people are sympathetic and have manners. Some aspects of human behaviour are impossible to police. Life is a cruel business a sense of humour the only defence. And of course you are free to tell someone who is rude to fuck off.