Disability stereotypes

1. Disability
and
Ability

2. Colin Barnes
• 10 stereotypes of
disabled people in media:
– Pitiable or pathetic
– Object of curiosity or violence
– Sinister or evil
– The super cripple
– As atmosphere
– Laughable
– His/her own worst enemy
– Burden
– Non-sexual
– Unable to participate in daily life

3. • Most common stereotype
• Shown to be deserving of
pity when faced with
difficulty or prejudice
• Charity appeals have often
used this representation
Pitiable or pathetic

4. Object or curiosity or violence
• Presenting people as
unusual
• Disability is something
to be viewed / observed
• Difference is highlighted
and made a spectacle
• Puts disabled and
non-disabled people in
binary opposition when
they are not

5. Super cripple
• Position of admiration despite disability
• Patronising in some ways – e.g. admiring
attitude of people with disabilities

6. Humour
• Pleasure in the misfortune of others
(schadenfreunde)
• Disability seen as source of
humour since the Ancient Greeks
• Humour based on disability
• Or humour despite of it

7. Sinister or evil
• Scarring and disability
as short cut for evil
• Scarring and disability
often used to signify
violence or anger
• Joker / Freddy Krueger