Media Representation of Disability

Media Representation of Disability Examples

The media has continued to add to the discrimination of disabled people. The media enforce disability stereotypes and portraying disabled individuals in a negative un-empowering way. They seem to be presented as being unable to participate in everyday life and 

Stereotypes that the media use to portray disabled people:

• Pitiable/Pathetic

• Victim/Outcast

• Unintelligent/Useless

• Weak/Vulnerable

• Tag Along/Lonely

• Weird/Laughable 

In magazines, only images we see of disabled people are in charity advertisements, and their disability is the main focus of representation. Often we are encouraged to pity the person represented or give them support.

There has been many conflicts within the comedic portrayal of disability also, the program 'Derek' being a prime example of mocking the disabled.