Objectification of Disability

When Stella notes the "lie we've been sold about disability, " she refers to the assumptions and stereotypes associated with disabled people. Individuals have various assumptions about disabled people; they think disabled individuals are exceptional due to their disability. Stella explains that when she went to teach Melbourne high school, a boy approached her and asked her when she would be doing her motivational speech. Critically analyzing this scene, it is arguable that individuals have been fed with the false perception that disabled individuals cannot have a real job as a teacher except giving motivational speeches in schools and other public gatherings. This perception is significantly associated with microaggression and ableism faced by disabled individuals. Microaggression is an act of discrimination against a particular type of marginalized group such as disabled individuals, which takes the form of exclusion, incidents, actions, and statements. Most disabled individuals get discriminated against and excluded from partaking in certain activities due to the perception that they cannot accomplish a specific task. The boy's questions depict this perception. Due to the lie about disabled individuals, the does not think that a disabled person like Stella can be a regular teacher. Stella uses the term "inspirational porn" to refer to inspirational videos and digital materials that aim to motivate non-disabled individuals by using disabled persons. Porn entails pornographic content that objectifies the actors for the viewers' pleasure. She provides an example of these "inspirational porns" by explaining an internet video that shows a girl with no hand using her mouth or toes to drink. "Inspirational porn" is used in this context because such "inspirational materials objectify a certain group of individuals for the pleasure of other individuals. For instance, non-disabled individuals may view the video andthink that they should not complain about life as it can be more challenging like that of the little girl with no hands.

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Niki

Writer and Playwright

London, United Kingdom