Transcript 3_Media_disability

Media representations of
disability
What is disability?
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Most commonly, we tend to think of disability as being
unable to do something.
It is associated with the body (physical), mind (learning,
mental).
The idea of disability may seem natural, however Tom
Shakespeare takes the view it is socially constructed.
It is one difference that society treats as being a
significant characteristic of a group of people.
Shakespeare prefers the use of the word impairment, as
the term disability has negative connotations. He
believes that disabled people are actually by society.
Key issues with representations of
disability
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Are disabled people
involved in media
productions & what
images of disability are
created?
How frequently is
disability portrayed in the
media & in what ways?
How do audiences
interpret these
representations & what
effects do they have?
The view of disabled sociologists
about media representations of
disability
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See disability as a social construct; that disabled
people are actually disabled by society & its
attitudes & practices.
General research findings indicate that the
media present stereotypical & stigmatised
representations of disabled people.
Evidence?
Barnes believes the media is partly responsible
for the dissemination of negative stereotypes &
portrayals of disabled people.
Negative portrayals of disabled
people
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Cumberbatch & Negrine found disabled people were
predominantly seen as figures we should pity.
Roper agrees with this in relation to media
representations of the disabled via telethons which often
feature ‘cute kids’.
She found these telethons enable the public to alleviate
their guilt & relief that they are not disabled by donating
money.
Karpf says telethons act to keep the audience in the
position of givers & disabled recipients as grateful &
dependent.
Telethons are basically a way of entertaining the public.
Consequently, these media representations affect the
audience by backing up prejudices about the disabled –
that they are dependent on the help of able-bodied
people.
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Barnes has identified a number of recurring media
stereotypes of disabled people:
Pitiable & pathetic (Children in Need)
Victims of violence
Sinister & evil (James Bond movies)
Super cripples (My Left Foot, Paralympics coverage)
Object of ridicule (Little Britain)
Burden (documentaries on carers)
Sexually abnormal (no sexual relationships)
Incapable of participating fully in normal life
Barnes argues the media rarely portray disabled
people as ordinary, normal human beings who just
happen to have an impairment.
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It is quite obvious that the media represents
disabled people in a negative, stereotypical way.
It is also important to note that the disabled do
not appear in the media very often.
1999 Broadcasting Standards Commission
found the disabled only appeared in 7% of
programmes in their sample.
It seems the disabled are a group the media
would prefer not to publicise; there is a denial of
their existence.
Conclusion
Unrealistic presentations of disability.
 These representations affect the audience
negatively in that they transmit
stereotypical ideas.
 Sociologists like Cumberbatch argue that
the audience have the power to reject
media messages, but if this is the
audiences only experience of disability
them media messages are often accepted.
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Question
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Assess sociological explanations of the
ways in which the mass media represent
disability.