The individual model
The societal view of disability generally conforms to the individual or overcoming or medical model of disability. This holds that disability is inherent in the individual, whose responsibility it is to ‘overcome’ her or his ‘tragic’ disability.
Often this ‘overcoming’ is achieved through medical intervention, such as attempts at ‘cures’. This approach to disability aims for the normalisation of disabled people, often through the medicalization of their condition.
The social model of disability
This distinguishes between impairment (the physical or mental 'problem') and disability (the way society views it as being a negative). It holds that impairments are not inherently disabling, but that disability is caused by society which fails to provide for people with impairments, and which puts obstacles in their way. Examples include access: the built environment often does not allow access for people with mobility problems. Discriminatory attitudes are also disabling: for example, the idea that disability is a personal tragedy for the ‘sufferer’ impinges upon disabled people in a variety of negative ways, from their social relationships to their ability to get jobs.
"Disability is produced in different forms, and in different proportions, in different cultures" (Oliver, 1996).
Difference
It has been argued that dominant notions of ‘normality’ and beauty do not allow for the natural range of difference in human form. These notions are not only prejudicial to the acceptance of disabled people, but also increasingly impact on non-disabled people. Charlotte Cooper, for example, applies the social model to obesity, and concludes that there are some important categories through which obesity can be defined as a disability:
• A slender body is ‘normal’
• Fatness is a deviation from the norm.
• Fat and disabled people share low social status.
• Fatness is medicalised (e.g. jaw-wiring and stomach-stapling).
• Fat people are blamed for their greed and lack of control over their bodies.
Consider why it is that fat people or disabled people are rarely portrayed as sexually attractive. The media continue to enforce disability stereotypes portraying disabled individuals in a negative un-empowering way.
The societal view of disability generally conforms to the individual or overcoming or medical model of disability. This holds that disability is inherent in the individual, whose responsibility it is to ‘overcome’ her or his ‘tragic’ disability.
Often this ‘overcoming’ is achieved through medical intervention, such as attempts at ‘cures’. This approach to disability aims for the normalisation of disabled people, often through the medicalization of their condition.
The social model of disability
This distinguishes between impairment (the physical or mental 'problem') and disability (the way society views it as being a negative). It holds that impairments are not inherently disabling, but that disability is caused by society which fails to provide for people with impairments, and which puts obstacles in their way. Examples include access: the built environment often does not allow access for people with mobility problems. Discriminatory attitudes are also disabling: for example, the idea that disability is a personal tragedy for the ‘sufferer’ impinges upon disabled people in a variety of negative ways, from their social relationships to their ability to get jobs.
"Disability is produced in different forms, and in different proportions, in different cultures" (Oliver, 1996).
Difference
It has been argued that dominant notions of ‘normality’ and beauty do not allow for the natural range of difference in human form. These notions are not only prejudicial to the acceptance of disabled people, but also increasingly impact on non-disabled people. Charlotte Cooper, for example, applies the social model to obesity, and concludes that there are some important categories through which obesity can be defined as a disability:
• A slender body is ‘normal’
• Fatness is a deviation from the norm.
• Fat and disabled people share low social status.
• Fatness is medicalised (e.g. jaw-wiring and stomach-stapling).
• Fat people are blamed for their greed and lack of control over their bodies.
Consider why it is that fat people or disabled people are rarely portrayed as sexually attractive. The media continue to enforce disability stereotypes portraying disabled individuals in a negative un-empowering way.
Stereotypes
In his 1991 study, Paul Hunt identified 10 stereotypes that the media use to portray disabled people:
In his 1991 study, Paul Hunt identified 10 stereotypes that the media use to portray disabled people:
- The disabled person as pitiable or pathetic
- An object of curiosity or violence
- Sinister or evil
- The super cripple
- As atmosphere
- Laughable
- His/her own worst enemy
- As a burden
- As Non-sexual
- Being unable to participate in daily life
Shakespeare (1999) presents a potential reason behind the use of one of these stereotypes: "The use of disability as character trait, plot device, or as atmosphere is a lazy short-cut. These representations are not accurate or fair reflections of the actual experience of disabled people. Such stereotypes reinforce negative attitudes towards disabled people, and ignorance about the nature of disability"
In other words, the disability itself is often used as a hook by writers and film-makers to draw audiences into the story. These one-dimensional stereotypes are often distanced from the audience - where characters are only viewed through their impairment, and not valued as people. Shakespeare (1999) continues: "Above all, the dominant images [of disabled people] are crude, one-dimensional and simplistic."
In other words, the disability itself is often used as a hook by writers and film-makers to draw audiences into the story. These one-dimensional stereotypes are often distanced from the audience - where characters are only viewed through their impairment, and not valued as people. Shakespeare (1999) continues: "Above all, the dominant images [of disabled people] are crude, one-dimensional and simplistic."
PHYSICAL ABILITY/DISABILITY
The key thing about disabled characters is their sheer invisibility! This is easily the most under-represented of all 7 types listed. The key here is dependence v independence; storylines typically revolve around the carer, and not so much the individual disabled person themselves. We often will see physical and mental disability combined, a rather harmful stereotype in itself. Most disabled characters are those who have had an accident; a long-established character who then has to deal with issues around this, rather than someone born with a disability, presumably as its judged the audience can more easily relate to such a character – this is something to pick up on. Sexuality is often simply ignored for disabled characters. The handling
of mental disability on TV dramas has been heavily criticised in recent years, and is usually seen as sensationalised and stigmatising those who suffer from this.
of mental disability on TV dramas has been heavily criticised in recent years, and is usually seen as sensationalised and stigmatising those who suffer from this.
KEY IDEAS: in/dependence; invisible; result of accident; focus on carer; issues around sexuality
Examples of representation of disability in TVSkins:
Skins is a British drama series. In both season 1 and season 2, there is a character called Tony Stonem. He is involved in a car crash where he hits his head. He then suffers severe memory loss and cannot remember ,much about his life previous to the accident. The director highlights a lot of the emotional struggles and challenges that is common with those suffering from a mental disability. This will educate the audience. However he also makes the character Tony, who previous to the accident was a strong independent character, look weak and a victim to the world. It is a common generalisation that those with mental disabilities are vulnerable and defenceless in society.
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