This coming Saturday, the first annual Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Patients Against Discrimination Awareness Fundraiser (CSPADAF) will be held at the Tacoma Dome by the Americans Against Discrimination Association (AADA) in order to raise awareness about the discrimination that those who have undergone cosmetic plastic surgery experience in the United States.
The fundraiser looks to raise money in order to provide 24/7 support lines for those who have been through the transformative process and have faced criticism and discrimination for their choices, and to make it possible for the Association to continue printing its pamphlets, flyers, and other informative paper products.
First year Katie Marie Louisa Monroe, creator of CSPADAF and the local representative for the AADA in the Tacoma area, will open the event with a speech on the state of cosmetic plastic surgery patients in America today.
“I believe it is crucial to inform my fellow Americans about the struggles that cosmetic plastic surgery patients face in a modern world,” Monroe said. “You hear about the struggles of religious minorities, people with terminal illnesses and physical ailments, African Americans… but you rarely hear about the struggles this unique group of people are faced with on a daily basis. We need to speak up about this, we need to stop the oppression.”
Indeed, there is an estimated 1% of Americans that have undergone some form of cosmetic reconstructive surgery – from breast augmentations to rhinoplasties, the various forms of reshaping, augmenting, nipping and tucking are incredibly diverse.
Moreover, members of this unique group are located all over the country – from West Hollywood to Upstate New York to North End Tacoma, the cosmetic community is spread far and wide; the discrimination, however, is reportedly consistent.
“I was at the mall the other day, and some kid pointed at me and yelled ‘look, Mommy, it’s Barbie!’,” a local Tacoma resident who has undergone cosmetic surgery and wished to remain anonymous. “That’s not who I am.”
Other members of the community are subject to similar discriminations, including but not limited to sexism, looks of confusion, and issues of identity.
“I went into a toy store the other day,” the anonymous Tacoma resident said. “It was disgusting how insensitive some of the toys were. Like, there was this one doll that so clearly was designed after the stereotypical imagery of people who had undergone cosmetic surgery in American history. How can a company feel right mass producing such an offensive toy and marketing it to children? It baffles me.”
The toy, revealed to be the new Betty Elizabeth Doll from American Young Girl Doll Company, has received harsh criticism from the cosmetic surgery community.
Indeed, the doll shared many features with the stereotypical cosmetic surgery patient image.
“It’s – it’s hard to look at it. It’s the eyes, the cheeks, the body shape. I could keep going for hours and days, but I think you get the gist. It’s clearly modeled after people like me, and it needs to stop,” the local resident said.
Monroe explained that issues such as these will be discussed at the fundraiser, in addition to methods of support – such as what to do if you think your friend is being discriminated against, how to identify discrimination – and more.
“I’d like to welcome all members of the local community to join us,” Monroe said. “The fundraiser will even provide lunch for all attendees, and every ingredient will be organic and free of genetic modification – in other words, no GMOs!”
Tickets to attend the event are 25 dollars, and can be purchased on the AADA website under “Events.”