Disability and Ethnicity Flashcards
(9 cards)
How does symbolic interactionism explain negative media portrayals of disability?
Symbolic interactionists argue disability is a social identity shaped by media. Colin Barnes identified six recurring media stereotypes: pitiable, sinister, super-cripples, sexually abnormal, etc. These stereotypes—e.g., Undateables, James Bond villains—reinforce disablism and reduce disabled people to simplistic roles. Becker’s self-fulfilling prophecy suggests these portrayals reduce agency and increase dependency. Tom Shakespeare, a disabled sociologist, argues these depictions promote ignorance and discrimination, serving as lazy media hooks that evoke sympathy or fear rather than understanding.
How do newspapers contribute to negative perceptions of disability?
Newspapers often ignore disability unless framed as tragic or heroic, contributing to symbolic annihilation (Tuchman). Findlay found a decline in words like ‘brave’ and persistence of ‘tragic’ labels. Waton & Briant found hidden disabilities are misrepresented, e.g., labelled as ‘welfare scroungers’. Barnes notes disabled voices are rarely consulted, reflecting the belief that disabled people can’t lead normal lives. These portrayals support the biomedical model, fuelling public stigma and social exclusion, especially around mental illness and invisible disabilities.
What is symbolic annihilation and how does it affect representations of disability in the media?
Symbolic annihilation (Tuchman) refers to underrepresentation of disabled people in media roles and content. Cumberbatch et al. found 80% of impairments shown on TV were visible (e.g., mobility aids); ⅓ used wheelchairs, and in ⅔ of cases the impairment defined the character. This narrows public understanding of disability and excludes invisible conditions. Media often reduces disabled people to their condition, excluding them from full characterisation. This lack of visibility reinforces ableist narratives, marginalises the disabled, and discourages media careers—deepening exclusion from mainstream culture.
How are ethnic minorities, particularly Black people, portrayed as criminals in the media?
Marxists argue the media constructs moral panics to distract from inequality. Stuart Hall’s analysis of the 1970s black mugger folk devil shows how Black men were criminalised. Cushion et al. found 7/10 news stories on young Black men linked to crime. Such portrayals frame Black crime as irrational, with little discussion of structural causes like poverty or marginalisation. These depictions fuel stereotypes and legitimise punitive state responses.
How does the media present ethnic minorities, especially Muslims, as threats?
Interactionists argue media created a moral panic post-9/11, making Muslim a stigmatised identity (Goffman). Van Dijk found Muslims portrayed as threats to white culture, often linked to terrorism. Moore et al. found 1/3 of UK media stories on Muslims focused on terrorism; stories on Islamophobia were rare. Refugees and asylum seekers are also shown as ‘welfare abusers’, reinforcing exclusionary and xenophobic narratives.
How are ethnic minorities represented as unimportant in the media?
Goffman’s theory of impression management suggests that media tokenism gives a superficial appearance of diversity. Ethnic minorities are often visible on screen but not in executive roles—leading to tokenism. Van Dijk found media sometimes implies white lives matter more. Ian Blair criticised media for giving disproportionate coverage to white victims (e.g., Tom ap Rhys Pryce) over ethnic minorities (e.g., Balbir Matharu), reinforcing inequality in public value.
What evidence challenges the idea that media always stigmatises ethnic minorities?
Tabloid press has occasionally shown sympathy—e.g., the 2018 case of a Syrian refugee boy attacked in school, and coverage of a drowned Syrian child during the refugee crisis. Additionally, high-profile racist murders like Stephen Lawrence (1993) triggered major media coverage and reform. New media also empowered Black Lives Matter protests, forcing formal institutions to re-examine racial bias and police brutality.
How has new media allowed ethnic minorities to challenge negative representations?
New media empowers ethnic minority youth to challenge mainstream bias. Platforms like Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram enabled mobilisation of movements like Black Lives Matter. After George Floyd’s death, protests spread globally, aided by social media posts and Blackout Tuesday. These tools help ethnic minorities raise awareness, counter stereotyping, and organise resistance (e.g., protests against colonial statues in Oxford).
What evidence shows ethnic minorities are becoming more accepted in mainstream media?
Postmodernists point to cultural hybridity and consumer choice. Soaps like EastEnders and Coronation Street now feature Black and Asian characters as ordinary roles, not just based on ethnicity. EastEnders has been especially popular among non-white audiences (43%). Increased minority presenters and BBC Asian Network reflect greater inclusivity, suggesting some shift from marginalisation to normalisation.
