The media’s stories, images, and associated items strongly influence public opinion and societal standards. Disabled people are underrepresented in the media, and when they are, they are frequently portrayed incorrectly or stereotypically. Conversely, the media can help combat misinformation and stigma by raising awareness. Reframing how society views disabled people as valuable contributors to the rich fabric of human experience can be a powerful force. The media can influence the public negatively or positively regarding the disabled in society.
One example of media that explains the obstacles experienced by the disabled is the fictional 1996 Disney picture Hunchback of Notre Dame, written and directed by Trousdale and Wise. The movie demonstrates how people with disabilities are stereotyped and portrayed badly due to their visible differences from the general population. According to Baynton (2013), discrimination against persons with disabilities is a serious problem, and this film demonstrates a thorough awareness of the situation through a social model. The disabled bell ringer, Quasimodo, represents his love for the beautiful dancer La Esmeralda. The film’s goal is to show people with disabilities that, despite their disabilities, they can achieve their goals and live the lives they envision for themselves.
Similar to the film by Trousdale and Wise is the YouTube video How Beyoncé & Target Model Jillian Mercado Is Normalizing Disabilities in Fashion–NowThis. The piece of media implies that people with disabilities have the capabilities to do and achieve all they want. Individuals can break down social construct barriers that exclude people with disabilities, particularly people of color, as described by (Baynton, 2013). The video depicts an individual model because Jillian Mercado wishes to include people with disabilities and destroy discrimination and ableism. The film instills a positive mindset in the audience and challenges social norms prevalent in society. Mercado shows that it is critical to speak up for the voiceless and demonstrate that society has a problem for a solution to be sought.
Finally, Mandy Hoy’s fiction poem Invisible Disability emphasizes that disability is not only for those with a physical impairment but also for those with a mental health illness. Stigma and stereotypes were created by society and can be seen in the media, advertisements, and even movies (Kafai, 2021). As a result, they feel ashamed and hide their disability to conform to societal expectations. The poem expresses itself in a serious tone, allowing viewers to understand that invisible disability exists and that society is unaware of how prejudices can harm the disabled community. This poem encourages readers to think outside the box about mental health and the importance of raising awareness.
Overall, media items related to disability are meant to create awareness that disability is not inability. However, some send the wrong message to the public, portraying the disabled as ‘monsters,’ which leads to stigma and discrimination. The three items assessed in this essay, however, send a positive message, showing there is a problem in society that needs to be solved for better experiences for the disabled population.
References
Baynton, D. C. (2013). Disability and the justification of inequality in American history. The Disability Studies Reader, 17(33), 33-57.
Hoy, M. (2018). Invisible disability. Cosmofunnel. Web.
Kafai, S. (2021). Crip kinship: The disability justice & art activism of sins invalid. Arsenal Pulp Press.
NowThis Entertainment (2019). How Beyoncé & target model Jillian Mercado is normalizing disabilities in fashion-NowThis [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Trousdale, G., & Wise, K. (1996). The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Buena Vista Pictures.