Representation Matters

Race, Gender, Class, and Intersectional Representations of Autistic and Disabled Characters on Television

Bibliographic Data

ID12967446
AuthorsJohn Aspler (0000-0001-7055-4357, Central Michigan University, corresponding author), Kelly D Harding (0000-0001-8996-8058, Laurentian University), M A Cascio (0000-0001-7795-4652, Central Michigan University)
Year2022
Volume16
Issue2
Pages323-348
Publication date2022-03-11
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueStudies in Social Justice (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1911-4788 • E-ISSN: 1911-4788
PublisherBrock University Library (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.26522/ssj.v16i2.2702
OpenAlexW4220925827
LanguageEN
Citations received24
References cited17

Media reflect and affect social understandings, beliefs, and values on many topics, including the lives of autistic and disabled people. Media analysis has garnered attention in the field of disability studies, which some scholars and activists consider a promising approach to discussing the experiences of – and for promoting social justice for – autistic people, who remain underrepresented on scripted television. Additionally, existing portrayals often rely on stereotyped representations of disabled individuals as objects of pity, objects of inspiration, or villains. Television may also serve as a primary source of public knowledge about disabled people and the concept of disability. It is therefore essential that such portrayals avoid stigma and stereotyping. We take a disability studies lens to critically analyze and compare representations of diverse people, who may sometimes be conflated in the popular imaginary, across television series about autistic characters (Atypical, The Good Doctor), those with cerebral palsy (Speechless, Special), and a character with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (Shameless). We employ an intersectional analytic framework to problematize representations of autistic and disabled people, using television, feminist, and critical disability studies literatures. We analyze how the formal structure of television storytelling can either enable or disable its characters, as well as how portrayals of disability that display a sensitivity to concerns raised by critical disability discourse do not necessarily display the same sensitivity when they intersect with marginalized experiences of gender, sexuality, race, and class

Disability studies · Pity · Psychoanalysis · Sociology · The Imaginary · Gender Studies · Media, Gender, and Advertising · Psychology · Social Psychology · Spanish Culture and Identity · Subtitles and Audiovisual Media

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access