TV Drama: Representation of Disability

Disability tends to still be represented in terms of stereotypical characters. For example

Physically Disabled / Disfigured people – often shown as outsiders, unable to do normal things
Mentally disabled people – Often shown as strange, odd, childlike, outsiders
Able Bodied / Minded people – often shown as “normal” and “ideal”.

Characters with disabilities are often portrayed in TV Dramas as being outsiders, strange, unable to do everyday activities, immature, weaker than “able bodied, able minded” characters, less attractive etc. Traditionally in films, villains were often given a disability or deformity to make them seem scarier or more evil. Although our association of disability with “evil” has since declined, society often still links disability to weakness and makes disabled characters objects to pity.

If you get “disability” as an issue in the exam, you should be thinking about the following things when watching the clip

Can I identify who is able / disabled in the clip?
Are people with disabilities shown as different interests, personalities, attitudes, behaviours from people who don’t have disabilities? If so, how?
Is their disability represented as being important in their life?
Are people without disabilities represented stereotypically as being normal / better / more powerful? If so, how?
Are people with disabilities represented stereotypically as being abnormal /weak/ pathetic? If so, how?
How do other characters in the clip treat the characters with disability?
What is the message the clip is trying to portray about sexuality?
Don’t ignore the able bodied characters as they need to be analysed too