At this time of year, right after Autism Awareness Month, Prom Season, and heading into Graduation, a lot of inspirational stories featuring disabled people are appearing all over the internet.
But what is really respectfully inspirational,
and which stories fall under the category of “Inspiration Porn?”
- “Inspiration Porn” is a term first coined in 2012 by Stella Young, disability rights advocate. She was referring to stories or situations where a person is praised for being an inspiration, based solely on the fact that they have a disability.
“Look, that man is blind! What an inspiration!”
“Hey, woman in a wheelchair! You’re my hero!”
When disabled people go about their normal business, shopping, going to work, riding public transportation, or whatever they do, there is no reason to call them heroic or inspiring.
There’s no need to call attention to it as if going on with life while disabled is some kind of miracle.
It’s not a miracle.
it’s just people, doing people things,
minding their business.
Praise a woman in a wheelchair for doing her grocery shopping?
No way, that’s demeaning. It’s inspiration porn.
Praise a woman in a wheelchair (or anyone) for completing a marathon race?
Yes, you bet! That’s inspiring, no matter who does it!
Another kind of inspiration porn is the kind where the focus is on the non-disabled friend
who helps a disabled classmate.
“Sports team befriends and protects autistic victim of bullying!”
“Cheerleader goes to the prom with disabled classmate!”
In each of these cases, the focus is on the non-disabled students.
They were actually nice to someone who is apparently so “unworthy of friendship” that anyone showing kindness to a him is a hero? Well, let’s all Alert the media!
How insulting, and how sad.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to belittle these friendships; far from it. I actually think it’s great when athletes stand up for kids who are being picked on, and when cheerleaders hang out with kids who are not in with the “in crowd.” This is wonderful, and I hope more of this goes on in our schools. We need more understanding and friendship, and I believe that many of these typically-developing, “popular” students sincerely like and respect their classmates with special needs. Bravo!
Where the line gets crossed is when a parent or teacher calls the local news station and the reporters show up to snap pictures for the six o’clock news.
Kids being nice to kids should not be considered news,
especially when the slant is that one of the kids is disabled/unpopular/unattractive/”unworthy”,
which makes the non-disabled/popular/attractive/”worthy” kid out to be a hero, just for being a friend.
In my opinion, that’s wrong.
But there is a lot going on out there that is RIGHT.
When you see someone doing something that really is awesome,
like winning a race, breaking a record, or delivering a moving or amusing valedictorian speech,
that’s praiseworthy.
Whatever their ability or disability, let’s give them a hand!
Well done, you!
