Thursday, February 23, 2012

Media Misconceptions



One thing to consider when contemplating the correlation between mass media and society is the role the media plays in helping people to stigmatize those who have one, either physically or mentally. While including people with disabilities in mass media has progressed a modest amount in recent years, there is so much progress that still needs to be made as still, even in today’s times, these groups of people are too often ignored. 

However, my intent here is to focus on how they are portrayed when they are in fact included.In order to investigate my pre-existing suspicions in regards to this topic, I read a vast array of articles I found scattered throughout the internet. Below are excerpts from those that struck a chord with me. 

“A 2005 report by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), “The Presence, Portrayal and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Television Programming,” found that “the clear, predominant concern raised throughout the course of the research was negative social attitudes, misperceptions and misinformation concerning persons with disabilities and life with a disability.”
Full article

"However the influence that the media holds over society has not always been used to society's benefit, particularly in relation to disability, where the media has continued to add to the discrimination of disabled people. 
What we see, hear and read in the media is often decided and influenced by a small group of decision makers. These editors, producers, programmers and budget-controllers are swayed by their own opinions of disability and what they believe will bring in audiences. Historically media examples containing disabled people have largely conformed to stereotypes. These decision makers may feel that they are taking a risk by portraying disabled people outside of the stereotypes which have historically 'sold well'"
Full article

What are your sentiments regarding this issue?  What action should be taken to help advocate for better portrayal of persons with disabilities within the mass media?

Carla Sosenko on dating with KTS

The above passage is an excerpt from a Marie Claire article written by Carla Sosenko, a writer born with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome. Just read below and then try to persuade me that she is anything but awesome. She is SO kick ass and I SO LOVE IT.

"My story doesn't begin or end with K-T. I have a full social calendar, a job that I love, excellent clothes, a teeny-tiny nose ring, a filthy mouth, and a badass triangle pose. Most important, I have family and friends who care about me — and if one of them were in my position, I'd tell her that any man who judges her as harshly as she judges herself isn't worth knowing — and I'd mean it. I'd curse a lot and say she doesn't owe anyone an explanation. I'd say, "Repeat after me: 'I'm unique. Got a problem with that? Your loss.'" -Carla Sosenko


carla sosenko



Read the full article.

Fly






Acceptance






Hi everyone. I am Arianna, a young adult, student, daughter and sister who just happened to be born with a rare medical condition. My condition, Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome, does not define me, but rather I define it

In my college studies thus far, I dabbled in studies of the various ways in which the mass media promotes unrealistic standards of “beauty” for both girls and boys to live up to. As I have raised my own attunement to the injurious messages of ads, television commercials, movies etc. being displayed to our society, I find myself passionate about raising awareness that people in all shapes, sizes and forms are beautiful. This may sound seemingly cliché, and perhaps it is, but when is the last time you saw a disabled person in a magazine ad for a high end fashion line? Sure, small strides are being made every now and then, but not enough progress has occurred yet.
My point is this, the mass media can be harmful to the average person’s psych, but those who are born disfigured or swathed in birthmarks are at risk for poor self-esteem issues as they are almost always ignored. The few times in which they are portrayed, they are not shown in a negative light in terms of their situation and their control over their everyday being. Change comes from recognition; hopefully the more aware people become to the detrimental message of people with disabilities of any kind being relayed to society, the more change will incur. 

I would like this to be a space for people to come and feel uplifted, or somewhat inspired to be confident in their own skin mo matter how different they may look or feel. Welcome, the name of this page translates into "still beautiful."