“Disability is a broad term within which cluster ideological categories as varied as sick, deformed, ugly, old, maimed, afflicted, abnormal, or debilitated - all of which disadvantage people by devaluing bodies that do not conform to certain cultural standards” (Garland-Thompson 2001, as cited in Campbell 2004, p. 445). Campbell argues that the portrayal of disability in media tends to focus around narratives of tragedy (the loss of ability) and optimism (overcoming disability at against all odds), while rejecting other narratives that do not fit this structure. This narrow portrayal of disability leads to stereotypical beliefs and prejudicial attitudes from the general public, marginalising those categorised as disabled (Hershey 2010).
Disabled bodies tend to be absent from media unless they are used to specifically portray ‘disabled’ people. For example, Glee’s character, Artie Abrams is confined to a wheelchair and dreams of becoming ‘normal’ again. This is depicted in a dream sequence where Artie gets out of his wheelchair and happily dances along with his classmates (2010).
This takes the normalcy away from being disabled, and reinforces the negative ideological categories mentioned earlier.
(Lupton, 2004)
Disability Arts Online is a space that allows disabled artists and critics to openly talk about and critique their social experiences. It is evident in these cartoons that they often feel patronised and disempowered by able-bodied people.
(Lupton, 2004)
Even when they are often more capable or intelligent than the able-bodied person, they feel they are expected to act incapable to a certain degree, in case of being perceived as ungrateful.
(Lupton, 2004)
In order to create awareness, a disabled model posed with her missing limb in a recreation of a famous Wonderbra advertisement. She is wearing nothing but her bra and is accompanied by a caption that reads in French, “Look me in the eyes… I said eyes” (Bustraan 2010). This is asking the viewer to look beyond her amputated hand (her disability), and at her as a model.
(Bustraan 2010)
More opportunities like this advertisement should be afforded to disabled people in order to display just how much they can oppose the stereotype of being ugly, afflicted or abnormal. These differences should be celebrated in media, as they make individuals unique and special. This could assist in dispelling the myth of a homogenous world where impairments don’t exist.
References
Bustraan, J., 2010, ‘Sizing up Disability in the Media’, Hearst Communications inc., viewed 2 May 2011, <http://blog.ctnews.com/robitaille/2010/10/21/sizing-up-disability-in-the-media/>.
Campbell, F., 2004, ‘The Case of Clint Hallam’s Wayward Hand: Print Media Representations of the ‘Uncooperative’ Disabled Patient’, in Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 443-458.
Glee, 2010, ‘Artie – Safety Dance’, 24 May, viewed 2 May 2011, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG4WOUB3wB4>.
Hershey, L., 2010, ‘Media Driven Disability Stereotypes’, Mad Spaz Club, viewed 2 May 2011, <http://www.streetsie.com/media-disability-stereotypes/>.
Lupton, D., 2004, ‘Crippen Cartoons’, Disability Arts Online, viewed 2 May 2011, <http://www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk/crippen_cartoons_gallery>.
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