Representation of Disabilities in the Media

Debunking stereotypes and demanding more complex representation for disabled persons. 

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Disability doesn't make you exceptional, but questioning what you think you know about it does

Stella Young

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The only way to increase media representation of people with disabilities is to speak up and challenge the current status quo. All stories need to be heard and told with complexity. 

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Becky Jackson is a character on Glee that has down syndrome and is unfortunately a walking stereotype because of it. Becky is played by Lauren Potter, a disability rights activist, actor, singer and dancer. The fact that Becky is featured on television may be groundbreaking, but the stereotyping that occurs unfortunately takes away from the progress.

 The character of Becky has so much potential for complexity, but writers continually put her into a box. Similar to how homonormativity sets standards for how gay people “should act”, there are unwritten rules used in the depiction of characters with disability. Often times, Becky is caricaturized with stereotypes. Often times, Becky is pinned as the comic relief. She says obscene language for shock value, and is often found making fun of the other characters. This perpetuates the stereotypes that people with disabilities are sinister or laughable.

 Unfortunately, the character of Becky had potential to be a new voice and standard for representation of people with disabilities, but the writing served our societal ideologies and not the disabled community. People with disabilities deserve to be portrayed with complexity, not as an evil sidekick to Coach Sue Sylvester that plots against the Glee club. The comedy of the show is problematic, because it serves the ableism agenda. Becky provides a service to Sue, and without Sue she is unable to live a regular life. When she is “unsupervised”, she brings a gun to school and accidentally shoots it, causing a frenzy. Sue takes responsibility, perpetuating the idea that people with disabilities are their own worst enemy, and need to be assisted.

 These portrayals need to stop.

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10 Stereotypes to Challenge

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The Trouble with Glee

Glee is regarded as being one of the most diverse shows in television history, featuring roles with a diversity of ethnicities, sexual orientation and class. Glee has even branched out past the societal norm, featuring characters with disabilities. Characters with disabilities usually take up less than 1% of television roles, so this should be great news! Why would there be an issue?

 Unfortunately, because portrayals of people with disabilities are so slim, it is difficult for critics to accurately judge the messages without the response, “at least they are being featured”. Actors and actresses with disabilities often address this issue. They often fall into the predicament of challenging problematic portrayals, or going without work. Stereotypical roles are unfortunately their only chance at “making it” in the television and film industry, so they feel like they are not in the position to “pick and choose”.

 Artie Abrams, played by able-bodied actor Kevin McHale, has had many problematic plotlines on the show. Artie is constantly cast into multiple stereotypes, especially the idea that he is his own worst enemy because his disability prevents him from easily navigating everyday life. Artie dismisses himself often as a burden and claims that because of his disability he has trouble participating in daily activities and life because he is “not normal”. In one of the episodes, Artie has a plotline where he has a dream sequence where he dreams he is able-bodied. He is suddenly popular, and he is able to dance in a huge number with all his friends. Instead of a plotline of Artie dancing in a wheelchair, he dreams of living a “normal existence”, insinuating that people with disabilities are not normal. This is ableism.  

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Inspiration porn isn't inspirational, it only perpetuates ableism in society. 

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#notyourinspiration 

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The media’s condescending treatment of people with disabilities is unacceptable! Next time you interact with someone with disabilities, please keep this quote in mind!

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Do you feel inspired by these images? Do you feel like you can now conquer the world?

You shouldn’t. 

According to disability activist Stella Young, inspiration porn is “the calling of people with disabilities inspirational solely or in part on the basis of their disability”. People with disabilities are defined by more than just their disability, and reducing them to simply that is condescending to their complexity. Porn might seem like a drastic word, but if you are using images to your benefit, it is a type of exploitation. People with disabilities didn't ask if you found them inspiring, so why insist upon categorizing them as so?