Cerrie Burnell
It was on the news here before, but I came across an article on CNN about it today. So it’s a few days old but still very much worth talking about.
Cerrie Burnell is the new host of two shows on the BCC’s CBeebies network. This network aims at children younger than 6 and it seems that parents are still very involved in what shows their children see on TV. Which of course is good, but not when it goes into extremes (which I think is the case here).
There have been many complaints, officially and unofficially, about Cerrie Burnell as a host of the shows. Not because she is dressed inappropriately, or because she is using the wrong kind of language for such TV shows. No the reason for the complaints is her disability!!
Cerrie was born with one hand, and that seems to be a valid reason for some parents to file a complaint about her as a TV show host. It bothers me immensely that there are still people that believe their children should be protected from ‘things like that’. And that a disability is a reason to be an outcast in this world.
I think it’s awesome that BBC is standing by Burnell. It’s great to finally see some people on TV in normal jobs with disabilities. People with disabilities generally have a harder time getting a job, especially one that leaves them in the public eye. So I feel it’s great that the BBC decided she was the best person for the job, despite her disability.
Parents should grab this opportunity to talk to their children and explain to them that not everyone is born with good health, or with all their limbs on their body. They should explain to them that it’s nothing to be scared about, that it’s no weird and that they should threat them the same as people who were born ‘normally’ (to use that word by lack of other words). After all, they are going to see people like that in public everywhere. In the mall, the library, the swimming pool etc.
People with disabilities are still too much considered an outcast, or weird and scary. They are generally not seen as ‘full’ and ‘competent’ to do things. Surely they have to do things differently than most of us but that doesn’t mean they can’t do it and that they are incompetent.
It really bothers me that so many people objected to her being on the show. Especially when you consider that a lot of people don’t mind that their (young!) child watches MTV where they show half naked women and hear man sing about women being bitches and only there to please the men.
I’m all for Cerrie Burnell. I hope that she will be the eye opener this world needs. That it will make one aware that people with disabilities are just as much part of society as people that don’t have disabilities. Let’s hope more people will find the job of their dreams even though they have disabilities.
Acceptance is the key. We should all accept each other as we are, with all our flaws and shortcomings. Embrace each other and love our differences.
I’m, of course, aware that discrimination still happens a lot and goes on in every day life. In all kind of ways, whether it’s about disabilities, skin colour or religion for instance. I’m also amazed though that so many people still let that happen. I work with a lot of people from different backgrounds, religions and countries (and therefore with many people that have a different colour of skin). They are wonderful people and I love to learn from them about their culture and believes. I see that we are different but I embrace it and accept our diversity.
I would let my child watch Cerrie Burnell on TV, if I had children of course 
. Would you?! And if not, why not?
4 Comments on "Cerrie Burnell"
I am absolutely disgusted at the idea that there are people out there that want to “protect” their kids from people with diasbilities. What they’re basically trying to do is force to people, who of no fault of their own, were born with a handicap, to live in a “basement”. Out of sight, out of mind. It gives the impression that they believe these people are worth less than the rest of us and don’t deserve the same treatment and respect.
People hate others who are different from them… and unfortunately, a lot of it comes for the majority of the citizens of north america: the caucasians. Why is there such as word as minority? It’s simple…
Parents are trying to censor what their kids are exposed to, and if they are so bothered by that, I wonder why they even turn on that channel then, but instead attacks a woman with a disability? Man… this world has definitely gone to making no sense nowadays.
Ableism is such a huge problem that no one ever pays attention to… and it disgusts me immensely that people not only pretend that discrimination against the disabled/deformed doesn’t exist, they like to pretend that the disabled/deformed don’t exist at all.
I hate that a father complained that he had to explain disabilities to his children. And that’s a problem because…? It’s high time people actually talked about this instead of just turning their heads away.
Major kudos to BBC for looking past her disability. If this show is still on when I have children, I am going to make them watch it and take it as an opportunity to explain disabilities to them.
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People actually complained about a woman with one hand being on TV?? That is ridiculously narrow-minded.
That said, I’m aware that some parents don’t like to admit to their children that disabilities exist. Personally I think that’s irresponsible parenting — like going, “Oh, I wish racial minorities didn’t exist, so let’s pretend they don’t.” But I walk past a primary school on my way home each day, and I’ve had kids gape in horror at my appearance (my right arm is short, and has four fingers) — and their parents GLARE AT ME like it’s my fault for existing, or walking past their child’s school, or something. I shouldn’t expose innocent children to my appearance!
I just think it’s ridiculous of people to demand that disabled people not exist (or, if permitted to exist, not show their faces in public). Good on the BBC for hiring her — it should always be the best person hired, not just the best of the perfect-looking people hired, IMO.