We’re used to tuning into Netflix or heading to the cinema, and our screens being occupied by stunning celebrities. We skim through our Instagram feed and it’s infiltrated with all sorts of influencers with millions of followers who ‘keep it real’ by talking about something like a break out in their skin.
In our Kardashian-esque era, there is a noticeable lack of diversity present in the media. Impairments and health issues are prominent in real life and therefore excluding them is not a true depiction and portrayal of our society.
The hereafter mentioned are just a few instances where this much welcomed diversity portrayal is apparent!
Stuttering:
Fluency, is the aspect of speech production that refers to how continuous, smooth, and effortless the speech itself is. It is not to say that at any time that someone is dysfluent, it is an impairment. Quite the contrary, as we all may tend to make use of additions to our speech such as ‘um’ or word repetitions. The use of additions/repetitions once in a while is something rather common, however if it happens frequently, it may be a speech impairment known as stuttering.
Over the years, several movies have involved characters who stutter, such as, the famous Porky Pig from Looney Tunes and Piglet in Winnie the Pooh.
Other famous movies which show such a speech impediment include;
· Charlotte’s Web (1972) [where Agnes Moorehead performed the voice of a stuttering goose]
· Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone , acted out by the character Professor Quirrell
· The King’s Speech which is a movie about King George VI with a special focus on difficulties faced due to his stuttering.
Hearing Impairments:
This is an impairment affecting the way the individual hears and may occur in one or both ears. It is better described as a partial or total loss of hearing. Such an impairment has been featured in the series Switched at birth which has several deaf characters, including the main character Daphne Vasquez, with one episode being performed entirely in sign language.
The newly released Toy Story 4 features a boy wearing a cochlear implant. This is seen to be as rather ground-breaking for the media and gained a lot of intrigue, appreciation, and respect from the viewers. It is a passageway that can help young individuals whom may feel threatened or brought down by their impairment, suddenly normalise it.
Autism:
Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an umbrella term for a range of conditions, primarily characterised by difficulty with social skills, speech, and nonverbal communication, with other challenges such as repetitive behaviours.
In the media, autism is often portrayed in a negative light and often as a disorder which is extremely difficult to deal with.
Breaking this norm, a renowned series called ‘The Good Doctor’ highlights ASD through its main character, Shaun Murphy. He plays a young surgeon with autism and Savant syndrome who is recruited in a reputable hospital. The show follows Shaun and his challenges that are due to the disorder but also shines an admirable light on his perseverance and not allowing his disorder to take control of his life.