Disability

Stereotypes of Disability in the Media

In the Media, there are four conventional stereotypes of Disability, these are:

• Heroism and Bravery, overcoming of adversity
• Villain or a freak, portrayed as abnormal and scary
• Ugly, physically incapable, non-sexual
• Victim and/or vulnerable

This clip represents Heroism and Bravery (overcoming of adversity) as it shows performers and competitors taking part in the London 2012 Olympics. 

This clip represents the Victim and Vulnerable stereotypes as the disabled character is seen to appear smaller when being shouted at by the other character. It can also be said to subvert the Bravery stereotype as the disabled character does not stand up for himself when being shouted at, which can be due to the Physically incapable stereotype.

Stereotypes and Re-Enforcement

What stereotypes do you gain from these images?

In our opinion, this gives us the stereotypes of deliberately ugly to subvert the convention of it. Shown through the costume and performance of the character (braces, glasses and the "Loser" hand gesture) which are all deliberate in order to make the stereotype appear as the norm.