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Media’s representation of people with disabilities

What is Critical Disability Studies?

Critical Disability Studies is an interdisciplinary field of study focusing on the “complexities of social construction of disability” (Raghava, 2011). The study examines the unique relationship between theory and practice (Raghava, 2011). It critically discusses the medical models’ value and how it perpetuates the idea that “disability” is a tragedy, an individuals’ catastrophic problem, which happens by unlucky chance (Goggin & Newell, 2004). Critical Disability Studies aims to disable social structures and practices through a sociological understanding (Raghava, 2011).

The field of study aspires to challenges society’s assumptions of “disability” through the application of the social model (Oliver, 1996) .The social model, aims to identity “systemic barriers, negative attitudes and exclusion by society” (Oliver, 1996). Through a theoretical framework individuals with disability can have access to more civil rights and greatly enhance their life quality (Goggin & Newell, 2004).

“Marshall: disabled kids are God’s punishment” - 2010

This newspaper articles’ heading implies that disabled kids are God’s punishment. It encompasses the idea that having an impairment is in the hands of God himself (Hollenweger, 2013). The article inflicts self blame, marginalising individuals from society. Individuals are forced to loathe themselves (Campbell, 2008). It implies that disability is a “diminished state of being human” (Campbell, 2001, 44; Campbell, 2008, 153).

This example supports one of media’s representation that reinforces the tragedy model. The tragedy model in itself becomes a disabling force (Swaine & French, 2002). Critical Disability studies challenges this weak and inaccurate representation of disability. It disables the social structures and practices, through a sociological understanding (Raghava, 2011).

Media’s common portrayal

“the tragedy of disability, the private catastrophe suffered by unfortunate individuals”

- Goggin & Newell (2004)

Applying critical studies of disability to media.

Media portrays disability as a ‘deficit’ or ‘lack’ (Goggin & Newell, 2004). Media is a form of socialization (Ellis, 2015). Through the process of socialization, individuals are taught that being disabled is an individual’s personal tragedy (Bury, 2007; Reeve, 2002). This forms the ideology that having impairment is a random unfortunate event, which occurs to unlucky people (Oliver, 1996).

Media continuously circulates a catastrophic view of disability (Goggin & Newell, 2004). Disabled individuals become marginalized and stigmatized through the discourse of media’s negative attitudes and images (Ellis, 2015). Critical studies of disability challenge media’s tragic representation of disability and its discourses (Ellis, 2015). Through the application of critical studies of disability, disability can be seen as a “cultural and political category and space” (Goggin & Newell, p.210, 2004). Media’s tragic view of disability becomes threatened (Ellis, 2015).

The representation of disability in media

#(dis)ability

What is ‘normal’? Challenging Disability Prejudice

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Media Representations of Physical Disability on Children’s Television Programming

The way that physical disability is presented on children’s television programs is believed to influence children’s attitudes and perceptions of disability. Previous research has been conducted in the area of the absence of physical disability in television programs (Rapier, Adelson, Carey & Croke, 1972). Recent studies have also focused on this area and have supported previous work. In this latest study, the focus was on the representation of physical disability on children’s programs with the notion that children’s attitudes are established during an early phase and what is being presented to them on television will have an impact on the way their attitudes are developed, which in turn carry on in later life (Bond, 2013). With the absence of physical disability being presented on such programs, children are not familiar with those that are living with a physical disability, which is the reason why these barriers have been created in society today (Dyson, 2005). As children are not given the opportunity to grow up being exposed to the idea that some individuals have a physical disability (Bond, 2013).

The method for this study included gathering children’s programs and recording them daily from different networks and then eliminating all those programs that are not aimed for children as the primary audience, only programs that are intended for children were chosen for the study (Bond, 2013). This was a total of 407 episodes equivalent to 120 hours and 10 minutes that was analysed for the study (Bond, 2013). Three students were chosen and trained to carry out this study in order to provide consistent and accurate answers. These three students were asked to watch the recorded shows twice. As stated by Bond (2013), the first time the purpose was to “code the characters with a disability, their personality characteristics, and how they were treated by able-bodied characters”. Also stated by Bond (2013), the second time these programs were viewed was to “code the total number of major, minor and background characters in the program”.

The study revealed that out of the 14% of American disabled population, only 0.4% was shown on television programs (Bond, 2013). The results from this study revealed that physical disability in children’s programs included older male characters that have a long-lasting disability. However, the study discovered that these disabilities that were present in certain programs was not significant to the characters role and that these characters were not important in the storyline. Another finding was drawn from the results also included that the characters in the programs tended to treat other characters with a disability no different (Bond, 2013). As stated by Bond (2013) “No able-bodied characters treated a character with a physical disability with sympathy, fear, sadness or aggression”. Amongst this study only a small percentage of characters were shown to avoid those characters with a physical disability.

In conclusion, as stated by Gerbner (1980), it is believed that “children who are heavy viewers of television may believe that people with physical disability do not exist in the real world, failing to recognise the abilities of people with disabilities in real life, a potentially damaging outcome of media exposure”. This shows the importance of media in the representations of physical disabilities and its relation to the development of societies attitudes and perceptions towards disability.

Normalising attitudes toward physical disability is vital to integrating people with disabilities into a predominately able-bodied society

Bond, 2013

This Sesame Street episode presents the actor Christopher Reeve and his son. It focuses on Christopher Reeve’s disability and the use of his wheelchair. The Sesame Street characters ask Chris questions in regards to his disability, which makes this episode informative and educational for the young viewers. It is way to educate and normalise children’s views about people with disabilities.

Study- Representation and Reduction in Stigmatisation

In 2013, Zhang and Haller published a study that aimed to develop an understanding of how people with disabilities respond to how they are portrayed in the media. One key theme noted by many scholars on the portrayal of individual’s with disabilities throughout mass media is that these individual’s are depicted as having mental disorders, suffering from trauma or stress, receiving over compensation and demonstrating bizarre behaviours (Donaldson, 1981; Zhang, & Haller, 2013). Furthermore, these cliché images of people with disabilities within television and film (Enns, & Smit, 2001; Poore, 2003) have added to their oppression and psychological states, thus creating and continuing underperformance and preventing them from realizing their true potential (Zhang, & Haller, 2013; Davies, Spencer, & Steele, 2002).

Results from Zhang and Haller’s (2013) study showed that people with disabilities believed that mass media portrays them as ill and disadvantaged individuals. On the other hand, representing people with disabilities as supercrips (Clogston, 1990), a representative model used by the media was shown to have positive effects on this group as their achievements, accomplishments and their ability to live a socially defined ‘normal life’ like those without disabilities was portrayed (Zhang, & Haller, 2013). Using this model to represent those with disabilities has been shown to increase their positive self-image and allow them to ‘take comfort’ and feel a sense of hope and pride (Bandura, 2001). These results are relevant to critical disability studies as it shows that by focusing on the achievements of the impaired within the media, adverse positive effects result and rid mass media’s stigmatization and oppression of people with disabilities (Zhang, & Haller, 2013).

#dis(ability) socialstudy

We are tired of being statistics, cases, wonderfully courageous examples to the world, pitiable objects to stimulate funding

Paul Hunt, 1991

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A prime example of the negative representation and stigmatisation of disabled people within the media is the British television show, ‘The Undateables’ (2012).

Viewers of the show were introduced to a group of “extraordinary singletons”, when in fact, they were actually being introduced to six single people, who happened to be disabled (European Disability Forum, 2012).

It is clear to see the large impact and influence the media has over how people with disabilities are portrayed and viewed by a larger audience. When those with disabilities are finally recognised within the media, they are are shown in a negative and degrading light, which is clearly evident on the billboard, “love is blind, disfigured, autistic…”. Rather than highlighting other qualities and traits of these six individuals, the media has chosen to focus on one small aspect of who they are as a whole, further adding to the oppression and stigmatisation faced by people with disabilities.

Making a Change

As stated in a previous post, disability is under represented in the media, especially in children’s programs. With the media failing to recognise disability and the lived experiences of disabled people, resulting in children’s obscured perception at such an early age of what disability is and a healthy attitude towards it. For much of human history, knowledge about disability has been in the hand of non-disabled people. Those recognised, legitimised or certified as knowledge-able or expert in disability have predominantly been non-disabled (Goggin, 2003). This is being conducted on through each generation through children’s programs with little to no representation of disabled people. In some cases media portrayals of people with disabilities are often unrealistic and limiting. The one dimensional victim often portrayed in the media shows little resemblance to the actual lives of individuals with disabilities creating an unrealistic idea of disability in society that is being passed on to children.

Over many years the media has been able to both influence perceptions and attitudes of the viewers through popular televisions shown, films and print media. Most recently, the portrayal of people with disabilities being unrealistic, degrading or completely put of sight in the media. In order to crease a positive change in public attitudes, especially young children, media coverage should highlight the multi-dimensional aspects of their lives to depict a more accurate image of individuals with disabilities. Society today need to become the catalysts in the much needed change to the media, by analysing depictions, voicing their opinions and challenging conventional stereotypes with real-world examples of the lived experiences of disabled people so future generations can have a healthy attitude and perception towards disability in the world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the aim of this blog is to address the representation of disability in the media. Based on how the media views individuals with disabilities has contributed to their ‘impairment’ rather than the disability itself. The critical disability study in relation to media has been explored in this blog along with different studies that have been conducted in the area of disability and its negative representations in the media. One that was focused on in this blog includes the representations of physical disability on children’s television programs and the influences on the development of their attitudes towards disability in society. Another study that has been explored includes the study showing the representation and reduction in stigmatization. Recommendation for change has also been included to show what can be done in society to change attitudes and views on disability. The role of mass media in todays society is an important feature, which in turn can assist to address the issues surrounded by attitudes towards disability that have been created by society.

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