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Movies That Challenge Ableism

5 Movies You (Probably) Didn't Know Were Ableist and 5 More That Challenge Ableism

Oct 26 2020

Ableism, defined as discrimination or oppression based on one's disability or perceived disability, pervades our culture. Fear of disability, misconceptions, and stereotypes about disabled people are so common that most people don't even notice them. Popular movies and television shows perpetuate ableism in ways that go unnoticed by mainstream society and even movie critics. Not sure what this means?

I compiled this list of movies that perpetuate ableism and ones that challenge it for educational purposes. This does not mean that the movies themselves are bad or the people who created them intended to be ableist. You can still enjoy movies, while acknowledging that they rely on ableist premises. As a cinephile myself, I do not intend to "cancel" any of the films mentioned here. Instead, I hope to start a conversation. I also want to acknowledge that all of the disabled characters mentioned in this piece are white and cisgender; Hollywood has a long way to go in terms of depicting intersectional identities.

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Why Me Before You Is Abelist

Perhaps the most popular movie on this list, Me Before You tells the story of a man named Will (Sam Claflin) who becomes paralyzed and gradually falls into a depression. Instead of getting him a professional to unpack his mental health issues, Will's parents hire Louisa (Emilia Clarke), a young caregiver with no qualifications to cheer him up. This perpetuates the incorrect idea that disabled people are depressed solely because of their disability, and if given a romantic interest, they could be cured of their mental issues. As the movie nears its end, it seems that Will wants to end his life because he believes Louisa would be better off without him. Disabled people are not burdens on their caretakers, family members, friends, or romantic partners.

As both a physically disabled and mentally ill woman, I have experienced biases from mental health professionals (telling me that they'd be depressed if they were in my "position" too). When my able-bodied peers struggle with depression, they get treatment. When physically disabled people experience mental illness, they should also be able to access treatment. Suicide prevention cannot be reserved solely for people that are able-bodied.

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Why The Shape of Water Is Abelist

The problems with The Shape of Water have already been covered extensively by other disabled activists, so I won't delve too deeply into it, but one of the biggest issues with this movie is the idea that disabled people are unlovable and do not belong with other humans.

The protagonist, Elisa (Sally Hawkins), is a Deaf woman. Because she cannot communicate effectively with others (or more precisely, others cannot communicate with her because they refuse to learn to sign), she spends her life in isolation. She works as a janitor in a government laboratory, where she meets the sea creature who becomes her love interest. Elisa falls for this creature not only because they both share the experience of being different, but also because the creature does not notice her deafness.

While many people think it is progressive to not see (read: acknowledge) a person's disability, they are really just denying a part of that person's humanity. For the most part, people who claim to not notice disability are projecting their own discomfort with it on a disabled person.

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Why Wonder Is Ableist

This is perhaps the most surprising film on the list given the outpouring of praise that followed the release of Wonder. The praise mostly came from teachers and parents of disabled children who felt that the movie had a good message — one of acceptance and embracing those who are different from us. However, as a disabled adult, I interpreted the film a bit differently.

Like nearly every film on this list (both the ableist and the anti-ableist ones), Wonder includes "cripping up," which is a term used to describe the practice of non-disabled actors playing disabled characters. Auggie, the main character, is played by Jacob Tremblay. The book's author, R. J. Palacio, defended the decision by saying that when they auditioned someone with a craniofacial disorder for the main role, they couldn't understand him. As someone with a speech disorder, I would have liked to see a more accurate depiction of the disorder because speech disorders are stigmatized.

Another problem with the film is that it uses Auggie, the disabled protagonist, as a teaching experience for his non-disabled peers. The story should focus more on Auggie and his growth rather than how his presence impacts those around him.

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Why Stronger Is Ableist

Based on the true story of Boston Marathon survivor Jeff Baumann, Stronger aspires to be an inspirational tale about one man overcoming adversity. (This man happens to be played by Jake Gyllenhaal.) I do not want to take away from what Baumann went through. The Boston Marathon bombing was a horrific event, and I'm sure that Baumann was traumatized and had to work hard to be where he is today. But there is a history of disabled people being painted as inspiring in the media. In the disabled community, this is commonly referred to as "inspiration porn" because disabled people are exploited and objectified in order to inspire able-bodied onlookers.

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Why Forrest Gump Is Ableist

Forrest Gump is an American classic, but that doesn't absolve its ableism. In the opening sequence, Forrest miraculously sheds leg braces — a common assistive device for disabled children — and is suddenly "cured" of his disability. Not only is this unrealistic, but it is also ableist. Forrest shouldn't have had to lose his disability in order to succeed, but in the movie he does. It sets him up as the hero of the film, insinuating that the protagonist couldn't have a visible disability for the audience to root for him.

It should also be noted that it is implied throughout the film that Forrest has some sort of cognitive disability. It becomes almost satirical to see a man unknowingly be a part of so many major events in US history. People with cognitive disabilities can and do make history, but their accomplishments shouldn't be the butt of a joke.

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Why You Should Watch Jeremy the Dud

Jeremy the Dud, an Australian short film, is different from any movie I'd ever seen. The majority of the cast is disabled because the conceit is that it takes place in a world where disability is the norm, and non-disabled people are stigmatized. Growing up, I seldom saw disabled people on screen, and that lack of representation did a number on my self-esteem. Seeing this film where the tables were turned was powerful. The 30-minute movie made me think of my disability in a different way — as a social issue rather than a personal failing.

Why You Should Watch Crip Camp

Crip Camp is a critically acclaimed Netflix documentary about how a camp for disabled kids sparked the disability rights movement. Empowering and hilarious, it lets disability rights activists tell their story in their own words. It is the perfect primer for anyone looking to learn more about the disability rights movement and having been to a summer camp for disabled children myself, it was a joy to watch.

Why You Should Watch A Quiet Place

This groundbreaking horror flick actually features a Deaf actor (Millicent Simmonds) in a Deaf role, something shamefully uncommon in Hollywood and truly refreshing to see. The story also switches the script by making her deafness and proficiency in ASL an asset. In order to avoid the monster, everyone must remain as quiet as possible. By using sign language, they are able to communicate silently, avoiding a terrifying fate.

Why You Should Watch North Country

Because North Country is primarily a film about women fighting back against sexual harassment, its championing of a disabled character has flown under the radar. When Glory (Frances McDormand) is diagnosed with ALS, she keeps to herself because she is ashamed of her disability. Her male coworkers in the union even patronize her when she comes in to speak with them about their lewd behaviour. Glory is able to overcome her internalized albeism when she testifies in court at the request of her friend, Josey (Charlize Theron). Without Glory's testimony, it is unlikely that the case would've held up, so she becomes a feminist icon in the movie. Not only does she face sexism, but ableism too.

Why You Should Watch Mask

While still an example of "cripping up," Mask focuses more on the character development of Rocky (Eric Stoltz), a teen with a facial deformity. His mother (Cher, in an iconic role) is also a fierce advocate for her son, refusing to accept his school's discriminatory practices. Rocky is not the victim in this movie; he's just a disabled teen trying to get through high school, making him less cartoonish and more related to actual disabled teens who watch the movie.

If you're interested, disability studies scholar Paul Longmore wrote more extensively on this in his essay collection, Why I Burned My Book and Other Essays on Disability.

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