A Witch’s Test is a test designed in such a way that the only way to pass is to die. Throw the woman in a well if she drowns she’s human, if she lives she’s a witch.
The goal, ultimately, obviously, is the death of the woman. Whether that be in flesh or in reputation so damaged that a true death at the hands of the mob will occur eventually.
The Witch’s Test is very often given to disabled people of all types. Crushing a person with arthritis hands to see if they cry out. Creating an obstacle for someone with limited mobility to see if they can get around it. Putting allergens in the food of someone with a food allergy to see if they have a reaction. Removing aids to see if they can manage without them. Refusing to provide aid to see if they will survive without it.
These are all what a violent ableist would call curiosity, but in reality the curiosity is morbid and quite often a crime.
If the disabled person is able to adapt to the organized circumstances then the ableist will leap onto a podium to declare that they did it. They are the main character who clocked and under-covered the great scheme of a single fake disabled person… who wasn’t even asking anyone for anything.
If the disabled person isn’t able to adapt to the organized circumstances well they’ll just test/abuse them again and again and again until they get bored and simply accuse the disabled person of being fake anyways, because they are ‘too perfectly disabled’.
There is no such thing as passing a witch’s test. You can only pass if you die. Because the witch’s test is abuse and the only perfect victim is a dead one. If they cannot kill you they will damn you in the minds of everyone hoping the abandonment will kill you instead.
The best way to deal with a Witch’s Test Maker is to call them what they are. An ableist abuser. A person who seeks to harm the most vulnerable in society by denying their vulnerability even exists. Call out what they did plainly and loudly even if you think no one in the room cares. When they approach you in front of others let your feelings show on your face. When people ask why you reacted like that, tell them exactly why. Out them for their violent and active ableism.
If people accuse you of talking about it too much, accuse them of being ableist too.
In the same way POC had to endure years of the humiliation of condemning racism that no one saw as racist you too must constantly endure the humiliation of condemning ableism that no one see as ableist. They will call you crazy, angry, aggressive, dramatic, attention seeking etc. but remember these are insults not truths.
Do not internalize the hollering of a hit dog.
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