Genji Shimada isn't the best example for writing disabled characters.
Disclaimer: I am speaking as an able-bodied writer/artist, and will not be the voice of disabled people. Disabled people can, have, and will speak for themselves. They are entitled to their own opinions.
At best, he isn't the best. At worst? It's worse than you think, folks.
I know, I know, this sounds dumb. It's pretty obvious that Genji isn't the best example for writing disabled characters. Hell, when people (I'm "people") first think about Genji they think "green cyborg ninja dude" rather than the "green cyborg AMPUTEE dude". Disabled or not.
I need to shout this into the internet void that although I love Genji Shimada from Overwatch, I literally cannot defend him on any other points literary-wise. I need to shout this into the internet void because, I thought he WAS a good example for writing a disabled character. He's not. And while, at the end of the day, he's a fictional character, Genji is conceptualized and made by REAL people. And that's gotta count for something.
As to why he's not the best example? He knocks off a good chunk of the tropes that are a big (please) no-no in the large majority of the disabled community.
Karmically Disabled trope? he was a pompous asshole before he got his shit rocked by his brother. Check.
Hiding my "ugly face" with a MASK trope? I've played the dating sim and heard those Halloween voice lines, y'all. While they aren't CANON canon, it's still in-game. Checkity-check.
Upgrade my Body/ Fully functioning trope? do you see his double jumps, slashes and shuriken arm? BIG ASS check.
Overcoming Disability? YALL. OBVIOUSLY A CHECK.
āOvercoming bombards disabled people. Itās everywhere. I think of Whoopi Goldberg. In airports and along freeways, I see her plastered on billboards sponsored by the Foundation for a Better Life (FBL). Head in hands, she furrows her forehead in frustration. Or is it bemusement? She casts her eyes up, looking directly at her viewers. The tagline reads, āOvercaem dyslexia,ā coyly misspelling overcame. Underneath those two words brimming with stereotypes sits a red box containing the phrase āHARD WORK,ā and below that, the command āPass It On.āā¦ That disabled people can only succeed by overcoming disability is an ableist clicheā¦. To pose individual hard work rather than broad-based disability access, as the key to success for people with dyslexia is absurd and ableistā (Brilliant Imperfection: Grappling with Cure, 8-9).
I'm pleading for writers/creators to try and reach out to sensitivity readers and editors for advice on writing things they haven't experienced. Or at least, do the bare minimum and RESEARCH. (Blizzard. Wink. Wink. Nudge. Nudge. Diversity editors too for like everything goddammit c'mon do I HAVE to spoon-feed this to you?!!)
I need to do more research and find sensitivity readers.
Why am I doing this? Why did I make this post? Because I thought (and a part of me still thinks) that Genji is super cool that I made my own oc/original character off of him with essentially the same backstory (brother nearly kills younger brother and now must find peace).
I made this post because I did it too.
How do I "fix" my oc's backstory? I don't know. But dammit I'll find a way. And that starts with researchin'.
Shout out to Dr. Derek Newman-Stille (they/them), researcher and teacher at Trent University in Canada. They're a "Queer, Disabled academic, artist, activist, and author," and you can find their Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/dereknewmanstille/
As well as the https://spoonieauthorsnetwork.com , a website full of resources of accessibility consultants, disability tropes to avoid, and sensitivity and disabled editors by disabled diverse people. (Also where I found out the existence of Dr. Derek Newman-Stille lol.)
Shoutout to the mods over @cripplecharacters , another great resource for looking up tropes to avoid, and plenty...PLENTY more. Seriously go check'em out.
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