These days, words like “representation” or “inclusiveness” have sparked heated discussions. On the internet, trolls can be found complaining about both, arguing that they fail to see the importance. Interestingly, those who often complain are typically straight white males who have always seen themselves represented in media. However, as soon as someone else receives even a fraction of that attention, it becomes a problem. Much of this boils down to online grifters who profit from feigning outrage about everything. They neither know nor care about the impact of representation on people, especially children, who finally get to see characters that resemble them, instead of the millions of existing straight, white, or male characters.
Miles Morales, T’Challa, and Kamala Khan are examples of characters that have had a significant impact on people in recent years. For individuals of Hispanic, Black, or Middle Eastern descent, it has been particularly empowering to finally see themselves represented in the media, portrayed as heroes. Moreover, these characters’ stories often include moments that resonate with the cultures they represent. For instance, in “Across the Spider-Verse,” there is a scene where Miles receives a “B” in his Spanish class, and his Puerto Rican mother gets mad. As someone with a Puerto Rican mother, I found this relatable and couldn’t help but laugh.
While there has been progress in representation, one group that has received limited attention is individuals with disabilities. Media often portrays people with disabilities as completely incapable of leading fulfilling lives. If a show features a disabled character, they tend to have the most extreme case of a certain condition. This misrepresentation can be seen in movies like “Rain Man,” where Dustin Hoffman’s character has both autism and savant syndrome. Unfortunately, this led to the assumption that all individuals with autism were also savants, which is not accurate. Similarly, the film “The Predator” depicted individuals with autism as advanced geniuses, further perpetuating stereotypes.
Recently, I watched Doctor Who and was surprised to see a character in a wheelchair crossing her legs and standing up. This contradicted my previous understanding, as media typically only portrays wheelchair users as completely paralyzed. As someone with a physical disability called Erb’s Palsy, I realized that there must be others in similar situations, but it had never crossed my mind because I had never seen it depicted before. The representation of characters with disabilities, such as Ruth Madeley’s portrayal in Doctor Who, helps educate people and challenge stereotypes. Madeley even shared how showrunner Russell T. Davies made the TARDIS wheelchair accessible after hearing from a fan who wished they could experience it.
Stan Lee’s creation of Daredevil in the 60s initially raised concerns about backlash from the blind community. However, he received positive feedback from individuals who worked with blind children, expressing their joy at having a blind superhero. As someone with a disability, Daredevil had a profound impact on me as a child, as it showed that anyone can be a superhero, regardless of their abilities. Similarly, the recent release of Echo on Disney+ and Hulu, featuring a character who is both deaf and an amputee, demonstrates the increasing acceptance and appreciation for diverse characters.
It is truly remarkable to witness a series centered around a disabled person portrayed as a cool action hero. Moving forward, I hope to see even more representation and inclusion, as it is the only way to accurately reflect the world we live in. While some continue to complain, their voices are being drowned out by the overwhelming love and support for those who have been marginalized for far too long.
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