500 word essay - New Media - Disability

The representation of disabled people in the media often resort to stereotypes. Explore how disability is represented and how new media may be changing our views.

[More of a negative view portrayed – media has not changed as much as I thought.]

Media stereotypes are inevitable, especially in the advertising, entertainment and news industries; these types of media sources need as wide an audience as possible to quickly understand information that is given. Stereotypes act like codes that give audiences a quick, common understanding of a person or group of people, usually relating to their class, ethnicity or race, gender, sexual orientation, social role or occupation. Throughout the media having stereotypes of disability can be very problematic as it can reduce a wide range of differences within people and how they are categorized within society, also it can be used to justify the positions of those in power for example people with high status jobs and this can all link to the idea of people being prejudice and having inequality. However new media has developed the understanding of how disability is portrayed people with disabilities are seen as to some extent the invisible minority for example a large segment of the population has physical or mental disabilities and have been highly excluded from the mass media until recent years. As people have started to develop the roles of disability within movies for example they are making the audience more aware that disability is a concern but also they should have more involvement within the media. (This maybe contradicted as certain roles played as disabled people – born on the 4th July can be seen as a stereotyped role as the are seen to be sympathized and pitted for to some extent.) Not only are people with disabilities stereotyped, the full range of disabilities is not reflected in media portrayals. Lynne Roper of Stirling Media Research Institute, in her article “Disability in Media,” notes that “wheelchairs tend to predominate… since they are an iconic sign of disability. Most actors playing disabled characters are, however, not disabled. The wheelchair allows the character to be obviously disabled, whilst still looking ‘normal’, and does not therefore present any major challenges for audience identification.” Throughout recent times media has changed its views on the stereotypes one example being the idea of the term 'positive action' which refers to a number of methods designed to counteract the effects of past discrimination and to help abolish stereotyping. Action can be taken to encourage people from particular groups to take advantage of opportunities for work and training. This can be done when under¬representation of particular groups has been identified in the previous year. Under this broad meaning positive action may include initiatives such as the introduction of non-discriminatory selection procedures, training programs or policies aimed at preventing stereotypes of disability. Having policies and rules applied can allow media to develop further with a more positive attitude towards the acceptance of disability rather then having a sympathetic view towards disabled people.