Why Authentic Portrayals of Disabilities in Entertainment is So Important
The entertainment industry profoundly shapes American society. A tv series or movie has the power to inspire, motivate change, and challenge stereotypes.
In the years leading up to the US Supreme Court decision to legalize same sex marriage in 2016, Hollywood cast an increasing number of openly LGBTQ+ actors and actresses in starring roles. It could be argued that this authentic representation in entertainment helped pave the way for less societal stigma around the LGBTQ+ community and finally made the Supreme Court decision possible.
After the Supreme Court decision, blockbuster movies like Love, Simon have hit theatres to great critical praise. It has now become expected that an actor that portrays being a part of the LGBTQ+ community on the screen is actually a part of the community themselves, an unimaginable step forward from perceptions 25 years ago.
The same cannot be said for characters with disabilities on the screen. In 2020, only 22 percent of characters with a disability are authentically played by actors with that disability. While the numbers are trending in the right direction -- the percentage is up from 5 percent in 2016 -- it still falls well short of the level of accurate representation needed to challenge present societal stigma around the disability community.
In an era that has seen enormous changes in Hollywood -- from an increasing number of diverse directors gaining critical acclaim, to the first foreign film being selected for top movie by the Academy Awards, there is no reason that the changes cannot be extended to people with disabilities.
Why is Authentic Representation and Inclusion Important?
Seeing yourself on the television screen is powerful. Although people with disabilities constitute one fifth of the American population, the majority of those with disabilities have not seen themselves represented on the screen.
Hollywood has been altering their definition of inclusion for years now to keep up with American social justice movements. However, their definition of inclusion still does not include most disabilities.
The way forward is a push for inclusive casting procedures and hiring practices at all the major studios. If a greater number of people with disabilities could be hired both in front of and behind the camera, society would positively react. Why wouldn’t a small business entrepreneur hire someone with a disability if their favorite character on tv is also in a wheelchair? Why wouldn’t a child with a hearing impairment dream of going to law school if they see deaf lawyers on tv?
What Has Been Done So Far
The tide has begun to shift in Hollywood. Along with increased percentages of actors with disabilities playing roles with the same disability, several major studios have also agreed to inclusive hiring practices following the guidelines put forth by the Ruderman Family Foundation, with the most recent being NBCUniversal and Paramount Studios.
This is a step in the right direction to change the narrative of people with disabilities in American society. Still, Hollywood must be held accountable until 100% of characters with disabilities are played by actors with disabilities. It is time for complete authentic representation in the entertainment industry.
Want to Read the Article this Blog Post was Based On? Check Out https://variety.com/2021/tv/columns/hollywood-disability-inclusion-nbcuniversal-1234907440/
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