The Other Sister Analysis

The movie, The Other Sister, truly displays the struggle people with disabilities have due to what stigmas we have attached to them. It shows how the main character, Carla Tate, is a victim to the stigmas society have created but also illustrates the empowerment she is able to gain due to accepting her disability. The psychosocial aspects Carla faced was heavily due to the stereotypes placed on her. The movie depicted intellectual disabilities in a positive uplifting view and explored the psychosocial aspects of sexuality,employment, and treatment as well as the idea of quality of life for someone with intellectual disabilities.
Sexuality was a psychosocial aspect that the movie touched briefly on and that is something that is talked

about negatively in society.According to Farvo, some people assume someone with a intellectual disability has no sex drive and are unable to manage sexual feelings(pg166). This stereotype is shown when Carla and her mother talk about sex. Carla's mom, Elizabeth, brings up the idea that Carla should never have sex and that she should always say no. Elizabeth is so shocked that her daughter asked about it which exemplifies the idea that she views her daughter as not being sexual invested. Eventually we see Carla’s sexual explorations
with her boyfriend proving that people with disabilities have a sexual drive. My view of this is that Carla’s mom is stuck on the stereotype of that people with disabilities do not have sexual relations. I feel like the topic of sexuality is something rarely discussed but that is very important to the well-being of someone with disabilities.
Another area that is discussed is the idea of employment for people with disabilities and the negative attitudes towards it.Throughout the movie the main character is unemployed and her parents pay for everything due to their financial stability and do not push Carla to seek employment.

Yet, the movie also shows that although Carla does not have a job she is currently at a career college in hopes of getting a job after she graduates. This shows that she has a want to be independent. According to Falvo, someone with a intellectual disability might need training on how to think on their own and possible how to be social appropriate (pg167). If her parents possible focused more on making her independent such as making her get a job, it would have forced her empowered her even more to be self

sufficient.
In addition to sexuality and employment, Carla’s main struggle was being accepted by people around her especially her mom. Carla’s mom, Elizabeth, is portrayed as a antagonist;she clearly struggles with how to treat her daughter. This is exhibited when she sends Carla away to school thinking that it is the only option thus leaving out the idea that Carla could go to school elsewhere and be raised at home. That is just one instance during the movie that we see how she treats Carla. As the movie progresses and Carla becomes an adult we still see her mother trying to control her versus helping her foster independence. Elizabeth treats Carla as if she is a child not a grown adult.This is what Mackelprang and Salsgiver (as cited in Marini,2012) would describe as treating people with disabilities like perpetual children. This means that people whom have disabilities will be forever viewed as if they are incapable of having a mentality of an adult. Elizabeth also treated Carla as if she was incompetent and could not handle anything alone yet again reiterating the notion that Carla could never be independent. Mackelprang and Salsgiver(as cited in Marini,2012) stated that another one of the stereotypes placed on someone whom has a disability is the notion that they are sick, incompetent and require constant attention. This was displayed when she tries to get her own place. When Carla is fighting to get her own place we see Elizabeth stating things such as she is not ready to get her own place and that she wont be able to handle it which is example of the stereotype that people with disabilities are incompetent. Elizabeth had conformed to societies normal expectations for disabilities. I feel like Elizabeth exemplified the stigmas that are still place on peoples with disabilities.
On the other hand, the way the rest of her family treated her was completely different and chose to view Carla in a positive light. Carla’s father and sisters gain acceptance of the disability and embraced it. They helped Carla gain independent and positive attitude because they put faith in her. I feel like the movie shows stereotypes that are still in place due to society but that it also exhibited the idea of them changing into more positive outlooks.
Some of the other psychosocial aspects that were discussed during the movie was disclosure of the disability and if they created a sense of pity or victimization on the character.

After reviewing the film, Carla never disclosed that she had a disability and it is unnoticable through her physical attributes. It is not til you hear Carla speak that her disability become revealed. Her overall speech intonation and breaks in thought along with small vocabulary makes her disability noticeable in conversation. Yet, I believe that Carla was a victim to the stigmas placed on her but also as a hero in a way because it showed her surpassing peoples expectations. I enjoyed that the movie showed a character that was trying to push the boundaries of the stigmas placed on

her.
Overall, the movie showed the life journey of Carla and focused on the ways she adapted her life to fit her needs. Carla is at first made to seem like a sufferer of disability due to societies opinions but throughout the movie we see her gain strength and acceptance. At the end of the movie this is shown through obtaining the goals she put out for herself. Carla ends up getting married, continues with school and gains acceptance from her parents therefore meeting all of her psychosocial goals.

Reference Page

Marini, I., Glover-Graf, N., & Millington, M. (2012). Psychosocial aspects of disability insider perspectives and counseling strategies. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company

Farvo, D.R. (2014) Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Illness and Disability (5th ed).Burlington,MA: Jones and Bartlett.