Lecture 6 Pt2 - Disability in Media

Common Disability Stereotypes

1. The Bitter Disabled Person

2. Infantilizing

3. Better off Dead

4. Institutionalization

5. Magical Cure

6. Lack of Authentic

7. Tragic Victim

8. Vilanizing

9. Inspirational

1) The Bitter Disabled Person

• depicts people with disabilities as bitter and angry

• suggests living with disability is miserable

• Ex. Lieutenant Dan from Forrest Gump who was first very strong but becomes unhappy after losing his leg

2) Infantilizing

• portrays people with intellectual disabilities as childlike and innocent

• usually a tool for others to feel good about themselves

• Ex. Sam from I am Sam (other assume he is not competent as a parent)

3) Better off Dead

• characters with disabilities wish to end their own lives

• sends the messages that living with disability is unbearable

• Ex. Me Before You

4) Institutionalization

• disabled people confined to to isolated institutions

• reinforces stereotype that people with disability are threats/burdens

• Ex. Raymond in Rain Man who has autism and meets his brother but sent back to institution

5) Magical Cure / Overcoming Narrative

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

• ignores acceptance and accessibility

6) Tokenism and Invisibility

• disabled characters appear briefly

• lack of authentic role

7) Lack of Authentic Casting

• non disabled actors playing disabled characters “crippling up”

• leads to inaccuracy and stereotypes

8) Tragic Victim / Object of Pity

• focuses on suffering and sadness

• reduces disabled characters to their impairment

9) Villanizing Disability

• uses disability as a symbol of evil or moral weakness

• common in films (ex.scars)

10) Inspirational Super Crip

• frames disabled people as brave just for living an everyday life

• often used to make non - disabled audience feel good