Crippling Paralympics? Media, Disability and Olympism

Abstract

While clearly not intended to do so, the Paralympics and the notion of disability associated with them provides significant opportunity for ethical reflection on how far society has not come regarding disability. Yet, this opportunity to explore disability has rarely been taken up. Instead, the overwhelming representation of people with disability within mainstream media is found in portrayals of brave, elite athletes who overcome their disability. As has been suggested by earlier studies of media and disability, such media representations fit well within the established power relations which oppress people with disability in society. While there have been some changes and improvements, we contend that, overwhelmingly, the separation between the Paralympics and Olympics is not questioned, and that if the Paralympics are reported at all, disabling media representations still very much persist.

Cite this

Gerard Michael Goggin, Christopher J. Newell (2000). Crippling Paralympics? Media, Disability and Olympism. Media International Australia. https://doi.org/10.1177/1329878x0009700110

@article{michael2000crippling,
  title  = {Crippling Paralympics? Media, Disability and Olympism},
  author = {Goggin, Gerard Michael and Newell, Christopher J.},
  year   = {2000},
  journal = {Media International Australia},
  doi    = {10.1177/1329878x0009700110}
}

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