Astrid's Journal. FWD/Forward: FWD (feminists with disabilities) for a way forward. Issue 9. Battered Women's Support Services » Blog Archive » Women with Disabilities: Understanding Media Representations to Empower one of the Most Victimized Groups in Society. Women with Disabilities: Understanding Media Representations to Empower one of the Most Victimized Groups in Society by Joanna Chiu 1 in 7 people in the world have a disability.* Yet people with disabilities are often rendered invisible in the media, and when they do appear, the media’s portrayals of them are typically very bad.
So bad that when Jane Smith was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder nine years ago, she didn’t believe it. She couldn’t possibly be one of those deranged women she sees in television and movies. Because women have been historically branded as “hysterics,” and women are oppressed in the media in general, women with disabilities report feeling particularly harmed by media misrepresentations of their realities. “I’ve almost never seen a positive or, at least, accurate portrayal of women with Bipolar Disorder,” said Smith (name changed for confidentiality). The trope of the “psycho bitch” is something that oppresses women and people with mental illness simultaneously.
DAWN RAFH Canada. Bitchin’ Table: Abelism « ShoutOut! JMU. I’m willing to bet that (almost?) All of you have seen this sign in some public place (insert handicapped pic). This week’s Bitchin’ Table features parklena and eszenyme as they discuss issues concerning disability and sexuality. parklena: hey there eszenyme! I just came back from a really interesting class and I think you’d be really intrigued by the subject. eszenyme: Oh, cool. What were you talking about?
Parklena: Well, we were discussing the whole concept of women as very sexual beings but then the subject of disability came up. Eszenyme: Yeah. Parklena:Labels are such a hassle. Parklena: I can’t speak for disabled women, since I’m personally not disabled, but I think I’d rather people ask me about it instead of assuming that my sexuality is nonexistent. Eszenyme: I definitely think there are a lot of questions that need to be further explored, not only for disabled women and sexuality, but the idea of “disabled women.” Parklena: Yes, I’ve run into those signs before. Like this: