Ableism in our Society

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With the Black Lives Matter protests and people rooting for change, it’s not a surprise that discrimination against disabled people has become a trending topic in recent times. Known as ableism, a complex and often misinterpreted term, it is defined as the set of ideals and executions that depreciates impaired people.

Oftentimes, it can be hard to know what ableism is. People tend to jump to conclusions and only look at the surface of things. People don’t have to be quick to judge others when they see someone who is in need of assistance. Making assumptions is an example of judging others mindlessly, despite their differences.

Ableism is occasionally depicted in popular tv shows, such as the comedy-musical Glee. The show highlights the diversity of each character and spreads the message that everyone’s differences should be worth celebrating.

One character named Artie is portrayed as a wheelchair user due to a spinal cord injury from a car accident. Throughout all six seasons, the character doesn't gain as many opportunities as the rest of the Glee club/cast of characters, primarily in Season Two. In one episode, Artie’s distress towards his disability is spotlighted. Artie dreams of dancing on the big stage without a wheelchair, but his hopes get shattered when the solo is passed onto his gleemate, Tina.

The American sitcom, Big Bang Theory also portrays ableism. Viewers of the show have speculated that the main character, Sheldon Cooper, has autism spectrum disorder. The issue isn’t necessarily within the show itself, but how Hollywood illustrates their autistic characters.

The characters delineate Cooper’s traits as bothersome, whereas the character from a standpoint, is revealed to be a nuisance. Characters Penny and Howard, for instance, constantly poke fun at his inability to detect sarcasm, or his need to stick to routines. Reactions are followed by either a laugh track or several characters becoming vocally irritated with him. These types of behaviors influence individuals and viewers to normalize everyday exclusion towards those in the autistic community.

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Those with physical, psychiatric, and intellectual ailments tend to be stereotyped or isolated, yet these attitudes still aren’t completely recognized. Society can come to terms with their standard assumptions by adjusting their “normal” conduct. One of the many ways we can accomplish this is to quit reciting the r-slur.

A term originally used to describe those with cognitive disabilities has now been applied to insult others as “simple minded;” the two are in fact unlinked. Implementing the term “retard” through conversation usually comes off offensive towards feeble individuals. Although the statements made were unintentional, it still maintains a history that we cannot neglect.

Aside from reiterating the r-slur, there are several ways we can avoid ableism: by endorsing disability organizations and taking notice of the voices of the disabled community. Unfortunately, many organizations are unable to acquire equitable funding. We can simply raise awareness, treat people equally regardless of their differences, or invest in local charities.

Ableism is an issue that has existed for years, but is only now gaining popularity. For generations, individuals have carried their own ableist tendencies. Thus, it will be challenging to stop biases or negative attitudes. However, with several ways to take initiative and educate ourselves, there’s no excuse to ignore it.

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Written by DAY SCV Writer Carolyn Cho & Sahana Rao

January 2021