Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Carol J. Pardun, PhD, School of Journalism, Middle Tennessee State University, Box 64, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, 615-494-8925, cpardun@mtsu.edu

Popular media have a well-documented ability to influence national perceptions. According to the 2003 Multinational Study of Attitudes toward Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (U.S. n=794), more than 80% of U.S. adults surveyed felt that media portrayals were an obstacle to the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities (ID). This study content analyzed 41 movies, produced from 1962 to 2003 in order to determine what patterns of depiction were prominent for characters with ID. A total of 2,423 scenes were examined for their depictions of these characters. A group of 25 “normal” behaviors (such as using money, being comfortable with transportation, eating, etc.) were coded for presence or absence for characters with ID. Only five behaviors were depicted more than 5% of the time when the character was on screen. The most common scenes involved talking (64%) and having a friend (26%). The second phase of analysis used a qualitative “rapid writing” analysis to uncover major themes in the movies analyzed. Some of the prominent themes that emerged included the “burden of caregiver,” the “purity” of innocence, and being “smarter” than the non-disabled characters in the movies. Quantitative results also show that negative stereotypes have increased over time, particularly for women with ID. This study demonstrates that movie portrayals of people with ID are often limiting and bear little resemblance to the actual lives of people with ID. In order to effect a positive change in attitudes, media coverage should emphasize the multi-dimensional aspects of their lives.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants should be able to

• Discuss the influence of the media on public attitudes;
• Describe the way movies have portrayed individuals with intellectual disabilities over the past four decades.
• Develop concrete steps for influencing the way the media protray individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Keywords: Disability Studies, Media Message

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation