AUDIENCES ARE MOSTLY UNSATISFIED WITH REPRESENTATIONS OF DISABILITY ONSCREEN

Audiences are mostly unsatisfied with representations of disability onscreen

Nearly seven in ten people are unsatisfied with current representations of disability and mental health in movies and TV shows, reports US research. Yet disabled viewers tend to watch more television than non-disabled people.

The French movie "A Little Something Extra" made an impact at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024 with its cast including actors with various disabilities.

(Copyright: LOIC VENANCE / AFP)

They may spend more hours watching TV than so-called able-bodied viewers, but people with disabilities will always find it harder to recognize themselves in the characters of the shows they watch. This is demonstrated by the latest survey conducted by the non-profit organization,Inevitable Foundation, carried out among over 1,000 people, half disabled and half non-disabled. According to the report, 66% of those surveyed said they were unsatisfied with current representations of disability and mental health in film and television.

Worse still, over 25% of those questioned felt that more than 90% of the portrayals of disability they had seen in the course of the past year were inauthentic.

Thetrend in Hollywood may be towards greater diversity, but people with disabilities are often left on the sidelines. And yet, they tend to watch more TV than non-disabled people. According to the report, 63% of people with disabilities watch more than 10 hours of television a week, compared to 55% of non-disabled people. In fact, 35% of disabled people watch TV for more than 20 hours a week, compared to 25% of non-disabled people.

Authentic representations can drive engagement

And yet, audiences are keen on this kind of more inclusive programming. Some 20% of people (both disabled and non-disabled) say that they wouldn't hesitate to spend money to access a streaming platform or go see movies with more authentic representations of people with disabilities and mental health conditions, the report states. Meanwhile, 26% of people would consider cancelling a streaming subscription if it featured content with inauthentic or harmful representations of disabled people or mental health.

This lack of authentic representation leads 31% of audiences to believe that no streaming platform is genuinely committed to authentic representation of people with disabilities or mental health conditions.

However, the audience this community represents should not be overlooked, since authentic representations can drive engagement. According to the report, 43% of people surveyed (disabled and non-disabled) say they often share and discuss films and TV shows that offer a more accurate representations of people with disabilities or mental health conditions. Similarly, 40% are very likely to recommend such content to friends and family.

Like movies and TV shows offering moreauthentic representations of religion, this kind of content could help break down some of the stereotypes that are still all too prevalent onscreen and in the industry. Recently, the cast of the French film "A Little Something Extra ("Un p'tit truc en plus") -- directed by Artus, and starring actors with various disabilities -- was at the center of a controversy when no luxury brand would agree to dress the cast for the Cannes Film Festival. Released on May 1 in France, the comedy movie has become the country's biggest hit of the year, selling over nine million theater tickets.

2024-07-18T00:35:30Z dg43tfdfdgfd