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Marissa Dearman

ERWC, Period 4

May 31, 2017

Of Stereotyping and Disability

The English Oxford Dictionary defines a stereotype as a widely held but fixed

and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. People have

always been quick to make a large assumption about a group of people based on their

experience with only one individual or a small group of people. The effects of

stereotyping are often overlooked as most people either dont realise that they are

stereotyping someone or they dont think that stereotyping is anything bad.

A group of people that is often overlooked of having been stereotyped are those

with disabilities, whether mental or physical. While stereotyping is an issue for a

multitude of groups of people, it is a large issue for those with disabilities because of the

lack of acknowledgement that there is even any stereotyping going on. The stereotyping

of individuals with disabilities can lead to social separation because the reactions of

others produce a sense of being[] less than human. The stereotyping can make

people feel as if they dont belong or that they are some creature others are obligated to

help.

While there are an infinite number of stereotypes that negatively affect those with

disabilities, these are the most common ones: a disability is a sickness that needs/can

be fixed (Block), people with cognitive impairments and inherently innocent beings

(Block), people with disabilities are brave and heroic for living with their disability
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(Block), people with disability deserve pity (Momene), People with disability are helpless

and dependent (Momene), people with disability are to be feared because you dont

know what they might do (Momene), one should never ask someone about their

disability (Myths and Facts), and the lives of the disabled are totally different than the

lives of people without disability (Myths and Facts). Despite that some of these

stereotypes may seem harmless, ultimately they are harmful. For instance, it is harmful

to believe that people with a disability are helpless and dependent because it can lead

to said person believing it themselves. Another example is the stereotype that

disabilities can/need to be fixed. Unless it is temporary, such as an injury, the disability

is permanent and cannot the fixed. The belief that a disability, especially a mental one,

can be fixed is harmful because what it is telling the person is that there is something to

wrong with them that they need to be cured of it.

A lot of people would just try and stay out of this issue because of the belief that

since they are only one person, there isnt much they can do or because they just dont

know how to help. The first and most important thing you can do is ask before

assuming (Conceptualizing Disability). Stereotypes are based on assumption so the

first step to combating them is to just stop assuming. Another thing you can do to help is

treat those with disabilities with respect and as equals (Conceptualizing Disability).

Stereotypes can make people feel inferior so show them that they are not. Despite the

belief that you shouldnt ask someone about their disability, you actually should ask

them about it (Conceptualizing Disability). Asking someone about their disability shows

the person that you are trying to understand and want to know more about them. If you
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notice someone, or even yourself, believing in stereotypes confront it. Educate yourself

and others on the subject (Conceptualizing Disability). The more knowledgeable you

and others are, the less the stereotypes will be believed.

Stereotypes are harmful to those affected by them. Even if it may seem

harmless, such as those with disabilities should be pitied, it has its negative affects as

there is nothing to be pitied about. As a whole, we can work towards combating these

stereotypes with these steps. The world would be a much better place if stereotyping

went away as a whole, but we can start with the goal of just removing them from

disability.
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Works Cited

Block, Laurie. Stereotypes about People with Disabilities, Disability History Museum,
http://www.disabilitymuseum.org/dhm/edu/essay.html?id=24 Accessed 23 Mar.
2017.

Green, Sara. Davis, Christine. Karshmer, Elana. Marsh, Pete. Straight, Benjamin.
Living Stigma: The Impact of Labeling, Stereotyping, LIVING STIGMA 197
Separation, Status Loss, and Discrimination in the Lives of Individuals with
Disabilities and Their Families, Sociological Inquiry, Vol. 75, No. 2, May 2005,
197215
http://www.su.rmit.edu.au/assets/Downloads/Journal-Article-Living-Stigma.pdf
Accessed 23 Mar. 2017

Momene, Rene. Negative Stereotypes and Attitudes Linked to Disability, Atlas Corps,
http://www.atlascorps.org/blog/?p=10079 Accessed 23 Mar. 2017

Stereotype. (n.d) In Oxford Dictionary. Retrieved from

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/stereotype Accessed 16 May. 2017

Unknown. Conceptualizing Disability, Continue To Learn. University of Iowa,

http://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/nas1/07c187/Module%201/module_1_p6.h
tml Accessed 23 Mar. 2017

Unknown. Myths and Facts About People with Disabilities, Easterseals,

http://www.easterseals.com/explore-resources/facts-about-disability/myths-facts.
html? Accessed 23 Mar. 2017