If You've Ever Laughed at This Woman, Chances Are You Don't Know the Full Story

Jennifer Wilkinson's 15 minutes of fame came in the form of sheer embarrassment. If you've ever [...]

By Libby Birk

jennifer-wilkinson

Jennifer Wilkinson's 15 minutes of fame came in the form of sheer embarrassment. If you've ever lingered on sites like Reddit or People of Walmart, chances are you've seen — and laughed at — this photo of her.

"The worst thing about this photo is that people think a fat woman tipped over a cart because she was too lazy to get out of the cart to get the case of soda," Wilkinson wrote on The Mighty.

The truth behind the image is that Wilkinson has a spinal disorder called spondylolisthesis that causes a vertebra in her lower spine to slip forward and out of place, often causing weakness, pain and numbness in her legs.

"The longer I stand the more numb and weak my leg become," she wrote. "I have been known to fall because of this condition."

In addition to spondylolisthesis, Wilkinson says she is "very obese" and due to a mental illness, uses food to cope.

Click through the slideshow to learn more.

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(Photo: Jennifer Wilkinson)

On the day the above photo was taken, Wilkinson says she was in pain and feeling weak, so she decided to use a cart while grocery shopping for her family. While she was reaching for a case of soda, the cart tipped beneath her.

"I thought I saw a flash of light and heard some young girls giggling," she wrote. "I thought nothing of it cause I am used to hearing people make fun of me or saying snide remarks. It was nothing new."

"A few months later, I see this photo on a site making fun of people of Walmart," she wrote. "I have also seen this photo attached to stories that aren't even true about this situation. The only thing I am glad about is it did not capture my face."

So why out herself? And why now? Wilkinson says she wants to spread awareness about disabilities.

Click through to the next slide to read more.

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(Photo: Jennifer Wilkinson)

"The reason I am sharing this is because people think it is funny to laugh at people with disabilities. You cannot see my disabilities but they are there and they are real. So next time you see photos making fun of people just remember you know nothing about these people or the struggles they face every day. It is never just harmless fun to laugh at someone."

In addition to struggling with obesity, Wilkinson says she has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder, PTSD and avoidant personality disorder.

"I have experienced several cases of emotional trauma that lead to these illnesses. So I ended up using food to cope with my mental illnesses."

"I did not choose to be photographed at a low point in my life," she writes. "The fact that people assume I am fat because I am lazy is false. Or they assume I am fat because I want to be on disability. Obese people are treated as less than human and as something to ridicule. I just want people to be aware that fat people are people too."

"I am not asking people to accept or condone obesity. Obesity is a major health problem causing many illnesses and diseases. I also am not asking people to pity or feel sorry for me. What I want is compassion, understanding, and respect as a fellow human being. I am a person. Please treat me like one!"

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