Disability

• 2 sociological views of disability

  1. Disabled by their physical/or mental impairments. They need constant care from medical staff. The disabled are dependent on the able-bodied.
  2. We are disabled by society.
• Barnes - media stereotype


  Suggested and identified 6 reoccurring stereotypes of the disabled.

  1. Pitiable and pathetic - focus too much on possibilities of 'miracle' cures.
  2. Sinister and evil - portrayed as criminals or monsters.
  3. Atmosphere - disabled people may be included to enhance drama.
  4. Super-cripples - disabled peoples achievements have to be extraordinary to be newsworthy.
  5. Sexually abnormal - media assumed disabled people don't have sexual feelings.
  6. Incapable of participating fully in community life - disabled people are rarely shown as an important part of the community.
• Roper - media stereotype

  • Suggests that telethons such as children in need, which aim to raise money for the disabled rely to heavily on 'cute' children who are not representative of the disabled.
  • UK telethons act to keep the audience in position as giver and the disabled as grateful and dependent recipients of charity.
  • Telethons are about entertaining the public rather than helping the able bodied understand what its like to be disabled.
  • Consequently, these media representations confirm the pre justices of the disables; for example, relying on the able bodied people.
• Shakespeare - media stereotypes

  • Argues media stereotypes of the disabled are 'crude, one-dimensional and simplistic'.
  • Suggests that the use of disability as a character trait is a lazy short cut.
  • Stereotypes reinforce negative attitudes towards disabled people.
• Williams-Findlay - newspaper representations

  • Examined the output of the newspaper to see whether coverage of the disabled had changed between 1989 and 2009.
  • Found there was a steep decline in the use of stereotypical words such as 'brave'.
  • But argues that negative stereotypical representations are still present.
  • This is because journalists assume that disability is 'tragic'.
  • Suggested disability is not regarded as newsworthy by journalists or the audience.
• Watson - newspaper representations

  • There has been a significant increase in the reporting of disability.
  • Articles are no longer describing the disabled in a sympathetic way.
  • Mental health conditions and those with hidden disabilities are often describes as welfare scroungers who are undeserving of benefits.
  • There are rarely articles which describe the realty of life for the disabled.
• Pluralists

  • Media representations of the disabled reflect the dominant medial view that disability is dysfunctional for the individual and society.
  • Media representations realistically mirror social anxieties about impairment
  • Media representations reflect societies admiration of the 'courage' shown by individuals.
  • Believe the media portray the reality of everyday life for the disabled.
• Oliver, Mercer and Barnes

  • Media professions set the agenda from media portray of disability. They are at the top of the hierarchy of credibility, their view is that disability is unfortunate and tragic.
  • Media representations reflect the prejudice that able bodied people feel towards the disabled.
  • The disabled are rarely consulted by journalists because they concur with the medical view that disabled people are incapable of leading a 'normal life'.
• The representation of individuals with hidden and visible disabilities in the media coverage are underrepresented. However, this is gradually improving due to the growth of social and digital media.
• 1 in 6 of the UK population have some form of physical or psychological impairment that impacts on their day-to-day life.
• Barnes

  • Media stereotypes individuals with impairments rather than examining them as individuals holistically
  • The media often portray those with impairments as a burden on those around them or on society as a whole.
  • This can be seen with fictional representations of Alzheimers and dementia as well as physical impairments when family members are tasked with looking after relatives which disrupts ordinary day to day life of the characters.
  • Disabled people are often seen as one dimensional and fail to represent individuals as complete human beings.