us history question- disabled people stereotypes.?

Question

What other stereotypes are sometimes associated with disabled people?

Answer 1

The strangest stereotype regarding 'disabled' people is that they are unable to do anything. American history teaches otherwise. American Revoltionaries panhandling due to loss of limb or sight might be encountered but equally prevalent were the workers/farmers with an empty sleeve or hobbling on a 'game' leg or even a peg leg. A man blinded during battle might find himself earning a wage as a musician; many a tale told of 'blind fiddlers' and flutists. Also blind newspaper vendors are a stereotype as old as America as if the thought of a blind person selling reader materials is a bit odd.
Among Negroes there is a strong tradition of Blind Preachers as well as singers.



A common stereotype is that of the lonely disabled; as if lack of limb or a disfigured face would erase any opportunity for forging intimate relationships.
Just blathering here your question is hard to define but I'm always willing to try.

Peace................. o o o p p p o o o p p p o o o

Answer 2

Here is a fabulous website that you will find helpful: "The history of attitudes to disabled people", put together by the British Film Institute, found at http://www.bfi.org.uk/education/teaching/disability/thinking/

This page in particular lists the ten most common stereotypes, along with examples that can be seen in films: http://www.bfi.org.uk/education/teaching/disability/thinking/stereotypes.html

It is interesting to note that while the disabled have always been stereotyped, the nature of those stereotypes has changed over time. Indeed, it could possibly also be argued that what was considered a disability changed. In this way, disability itself is a cultural and social construction.

I think an interesting angle to your question is the impact of stereotypes on the identity of the disabled themselves. I am thinking here of the deaf - many deaf arduously learn to talk or have cochlear implants to 'overcome' their 'disability'; others embrace their deafness as a defining feature of their selfhood and would deny that they are in some way abnormal, requiring normalisation by way of talking or an ability to hear.

Anyway, hope the website provides inspiration.

Answer 3

Why do you make a distinction between the disabled community any other community? Why not just think in terms of the human community? Disabled people are humans and are a part of the human community. So, wouldn't that make you a part of the human community along with the disabled? There is no technique to belong to any community other loving all humans and treating them respectfully. Just think of how you want to be treated and treat everyone else like you want to be treated. You are not a perfect human just as disabled people are not perfect. Everyone has an imperfection which could be considered a disability, whether it's a low IQ, hearing disabilities, poor eyesight, Etc. It's a matter of how it affects your life. Remember the Golden Rule?

Answer 4

It depends on the disability.

If a person appears non-handicapped, then they may be accused of faking a disability or "mooching of the government."

If a person is large and has a mobility problem, it may be blamed on their weight.

Sometimes, when someone using sign language is begging, people may wonder if they are hearing and faking a disability to exploit others.

Disabled persons are sometimes seen as weak, vulnerable, or easy marks for crime.

Answer 5

they are easy to scapegoat as they are more vulnerable.