Disability History Part 2 - Disability in Media

Common Disability Stereotypes

the bitter disabled person, infantilizing, better off dead, institutionalization

The Bitter Disabled Person

depicts people with disabilites as bitter and angry

• suggesting that living with a disability is always miserable

Example of The Bitter Disabled Person

Lieutenant Dan from “Forest Gump”

• becomes unhappy and resentful until he gets his prothetic legs

Infantilizing

portraying people with intellectual disabilities as childlike and innocent

Infantilizing Characters Are

tools for others to feel good about themselves

Infantilizing Example

Sam from “I Am Sam”

• others assume he is not competent as a parent

Better Off Dead

characteris with disabilites with to end their own lives, depicting them as being rational and selfless

• sends the message living with a disability is unbearable

Example of Better Off Dead

“Me Before You”, where Will has quadriplegia

• chooses to die by suicide because of disability, believes it is better for his love interest

Better Off Dead Reinforces Idea That

disability is a burden

Institutionalization

shows disabled people confined to isolated institutions

Institutionalization Reinforces Stereotypes That

people with disabilites are threats, burdens, incapable of caring for themselves, and that they do not belong in the community

Institutionalization Example

Raymond in “Rain Man” has autism

• lives most of his life in institutions

Magical Cure / Overcoming Narrative

• suggests life with disability isn’t worth living unless fixed

• ignore acceptance and accessiability

Tokenism & Invisability

• disabled characters appear briefly or are one-dimensional

• lack of authentic, complex roles

Lack of Authentic Casting

• non-disabled actors playing disabled characters

• often leads to inaccurate, stereotypical portrayal

Tragic Victim / Object of Pity

• focuses on suffering, sadness and loss

• reduces disabled characters to thier impairment

Villanizing Disability

• uses disability as a symbol of evil or moral weakness

• common in films (e.g. scars, disfigurement)

Inspirational “Supercrip” Trope

• frames disabled people as brave just for living everyday life

• often used to make non-disabled audiences feel good