Representation of Disability

- the term ‘’disabled’’ generally gives a negative feeling, meaning that people often behave negatively towards the disabled without meaning to.

- the term ‘’disability’’ is a too broader term to use. Producers need to be careful when producing a media text, to make it clear that they are not intentionally insulting the ‘’disabled group’’.

Goffman’s theory of stigma

- stigma – an ascribed status

- it is a perceived fault (often a disability)

- it is impossible to remove the stigma from oneself

- if you are born with a disability, it is described as congenital. It is not your fault you have the disability

- there are different levels of blame and pity for people with congenital disability and those who are viewed to have the disability as a result of their own activity


There are two types of stigma:

Discredited stigma - it is obvious that someone has a stigma

- there is often tension when an able-bodied person meets a disabled person for the first time

- there is a gap between the ideal situation and the actual situation

- disavowal - a tactic used by able-bodied people to ease the awkwardness when with a disabled person. They pretend the stigma is not there and talk politely as they would to an able-bodied person. The disability is not mentioned.

Discreditable stigma – where the difference between the ideal and the real is difficult to spot

Disability is often used in the media to represent three main feelings / situations:

- disability used for humour
- disability used to represent the ‘’baddies’’
- disability used to cause pity towards a character