Spoon Theory as a Deficit Model

[sasha_feather]

Thanks to Gregg Beratan on Twitter for this idea.

Spoon Theory is useful to many people as a measure of energy and fatigue. It is difficult to wrap your head around what chronic pain, fatigue, and illness are actually like, and I say this as someone who has them. We all tend to normalize our experiences and we think that everyone around us must feel like we do-- and yet other people are somehow accomplishing more. So spoon theory is helpful in validating our fatigue and providing the phrase "out of spoons".

Yet a limitation of this theory is that it's a deficit model: It assumes that something is wrong with us, rather than something being wrong with society.

Instead of saying "I'm out of spoons," try saying "The world needs to give me more time to rest" or "Accommodations for my fatigue will help me accomplish this task."

The deficit model is the dominant narrative of illness. And it can be seductive: it feels like there is something wrong with me. But the social model of disability states that it is society that disables us-- that it is moral and normal to need more time and more support and more rest.

Comments

thanks. permission?

[brainwane]

Oooooh thank you for this. May I publicly link, e.g., on Twitter?

Re: thanks. permission?

[sasha_feather]

Yes absolutely!

[davidgillon]

I'm not sure I agree, but that may just be the way I look at spoons. Yes, I'm saying I don't have as many as other people, but that's no different to saying I'm not as mobile as other people. And just as I'd expect society to provide ramps to deal with the fact I come with wheels attached, I'd expect society to make provision for the fact I don't have as many spoons as other people.

[jesse_the_k]

I find the distinction helpful in that it points the way to what needs fixing. However they may wish, a person can't give you spoons. But with willing creativity (preferably backed by political will and legal muscle) a person can accommodate.

[bibliofile]

In addition to the problem that spoons aren't shareable: often, you start each day with a limited but changing number of spoons: for example, I may be able to do a couple of things on a couple of days a week, but one day will involve mostly naps and little else.

[longwhitecoats]

I really like this thought. I've become more and more protective of rest time in my own life, partially as my health has changed, but also as I've become feistier about labor rights. Thank you for posting this!