this is from a manga one shot called Bakemono Recchan and it’s actually a really interesting character study. it’s about a form of bigotry that people don’t discuss much: dehumanizing pity.
most of the characters in the story are actually repulsed by Antou for not being human, but they want to make themseves look good, so they go out of their way to praise her and pretend they like her.
they deny an entire part of who she is and, as a result, she never gets to share her experiences or have her needs addressed. hell, she never even gets to speak until the end. worst of all, she doesn’t realize that this kindness isn’t genuine. she thinks they’re her friends and makes a concerted effort to impress them, and, as a result, is taken advantage of.
there’s one character who is outwardly prejudiced towards Antou, but she ends up realizing that Antou being nonhuman isn’t bad or good: it’s just a neutral but intrinsic part of her identity and she deserves better than to be used as a prop.
the manga isn’t flawless and an argument can be made that it’s problematic to use a monster as a representation for someone who’s marginalized (though, at the same time, her monstrous appearance may simply be how others perceive her), but, as a disabled and mentally ill person, i really felt for Antou. her classmates are legit turning her into inspiration porn while denying her a voice.
…oh. So that’s what it’s called.
