Challenging How Disabilities are Portrayed to the Public
There’s no denying that the media influences society’s stances on several issues. Daily exposure to the news, movies, TV shows and even commercials influence how humans view the world around them. Unfortunately, people with disabilities have received the short end of the stick when it comes to media representation.
It’s important to note that representation for underrepresented groups is more than having an able-bodied actor play a character with a disability. It’s about quality, not quantity. True representation is showing accurate portrayals and diversity. There’re famous shows such as Glee that have characters who are disabled, but they’re often presented in a negative fashion. On Glee, there is a character named Artie who’s played by a non-disabled actor. Glee is a show about character’s embracing their identities, however, Artie yearned to be “free” from his wheelchair and believed his disability interfered with his passion for dance.
Contrary to popular belief, people with disabilities are proud of their identity and don’t see it as a hindrance. Unfortunately, Artie’s character reinforced ableism in the media.
In a podcast episode with British actress Amy Trigg, she talked about her experiences as a performer with a disability in theater arts, and the importance of representation. Trigg opened up about having to educate her friends about accessibility. She went on to discuss how there were certain factors that may negatively affect her but not her able-bodied friends. While having these tough conversations is vital, Trigg emphasized how representation in the media leaves behind a stronger impact.
Put simply, the content that people consume daily is presented in a way that’s easy to understand. There is a “show, don’t tell” approach, which explains why the media is so influential. The stories that are seeped into the audience takes them on a journey, and that’s why accurate portrayals of disabilities are essential in this context. People are more likely to believe something if they can see it, rather than simply hearing it.
To achieve better representation, Trigg suggested that there should be more people with disabilities in higher positions. For instance, there should be more producers with disabilities, more writers with disabilities, more actors with disabilities, and so on. When someone in an important role is knowledgeable, this will ultimately affect everyone else who is a part of the team; as a result, the final product has an authentic feel because the leadership has personal experience.
While there has been progress, there’s still a lot that needs to be done. The imagery that the media chooses to paint is vital and often serves as a base for dialogue about disabilities. If the characters are represented accurately, this could remove the stigma attached and encourage empathy amongst everyone.