Disability In the Media

Disability is socially constructed based on how a particular culture views health, illness, and ability. A particular condition only becomes a disability if the environmental and contextual factors warrant it. The beliefs a society holds and their values are learned, not inherited. Geert Hofstede believes that mental programming is the "software of the mind." In other words, our mental programming is established by social environments and not our genes. Each person has their own perceptions of the world, that is why different is sometimes viewed as wrong. The ways in which disability is viewed/depicted in art and literature is the way most societies view disabilities. Also, cultural views of disability are based on social and political dynamics of the society's interactions. Another thing to keep in mind, is that personal and aesthetic views of disability are created from individual experience. Aesthetic views have the ability to resist and transform mainstream values about society. Studying assistive technology (AT) is particularly interesting because it has progressed to more aesthetically pleasing aids/devices. More and more aids/devices are being designed to be hidden or more fashionable.

Understanding disability culture is important to understand semiotics, or what particular cultures communicate. Historical views of people with disabilities (PWDs) show that they are a minority and there are a common set of prejudicial values/attitudes they experience. It is our responsibility to study the disability is defined and understood, the ways in which the definitions change, the ways in which we can change the way people think about disability, and the power we have to influence the ways in which we think and develop supportive communities. So, why is understanding disability culture so important? Because the images represented in mainstream society often reflect society's values, perceptions, expectations of PWDs, etc. For example, giving disabilities to villainous characters reflects and reinforces these prejudices: disability is a punishment for evil, PWDs are embittered by their fate, and PWDs resent people without disabilities (Longmore, 1993).

There are many instances where TV/movie programs depict disability in the form of the above. For example, South Park had a "Cripple Fight" and Tropic Thunder used the "R" word. Other media characters with disabilities included: Frankenstein, Nemo, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Barbie's friend Becky, Tiny Tim, Individuals include: FDR, Bethany Hamilton, Glee, Josh Blue, Aaron Fotheringham, Matt Scott, etc. These videos aren't long, but are worth watching!

I think the important thing here is to realize that even though disability is still viewed in a negative manner (like Barbie's friend having to be the one who uses a wheelchair and not barbie herself, South Park episodes, Tropic Thunder, etc.), there are many role models in the media who are proving that PWDs can do anything people without disabilities can do, and that they do not need to be pitied, glorified, made into heroes, villianized, etc. They are people living their lives - plain and simple.