Stereotypes Of Disabled People

2016 Words5 Pages

All forms of artistic representations play a really important part of everyday life and are vital for the spreading of information to mass population. It is clear that the majority of information about disabled people is negative and affects the attitudes, assumptions and expectations of disabled people. Negative representations promote discrimination, exploitation and exclusion of disabled people from the mainstream life (Barnes, 1992). No artistic piece of work exists if there is no audience. The perception of a passive audience has been widely challenged and the Strathclyde Study (2011) shows that people do not just accept all that is presented. Audiences challenge and frequently have two opposing ideas in their mind at the same …show more content…

Television shows clearly the common and the diverse characteristics of our society. Although each group or minority is provided with exposure on television, there is clearly no equality between the groups since White Anglo Saxon values and culture is dominant (Finkelstein, 1987). Also in theatres, Barnes (1991) notes that it is quite frequent that script writers use offensive jokes about disabled people and their impairments to get laughs while producers tend to choose which disability to accept or not. Wilde (2007) discusses the importance of soap operas in theatres and on television for people to learn about social concerns and turn to for assistance in personal problems. In her study, Wilde (2007) finds that audiences still consider portrayals of disabled people as not appealing and without meaning even when they are not stereotypical. Reports on newspapers regarding disabled people are usually published for the sensation they will create and not for accuracy in the information or perceptions given. Smith & Jordan (1991) state that thirty five per cent of stories about disability or disabled people tackle issues such as health, fundraising, charity and personal interest …show more content…

Disabled people frequently experience aggressive behaviours or violence. This may be the result of being portrayed as helpless and fully dependent on others. The stereotype of disabled people as sinister or evil is “a major obstacle to disabled people’s successful integration into the community” (Barnes, 1992, pp.11). This image gives the assumption that disabled people cannot be trusted, are dangerous to children and should be institutionalised instead of giving them the necessary support to live in the

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