PPP-3003 1

Breaking the stigma or lighting the fire?

Attitudes towards disability and the role of the media

Love is in the air, at least on ’s BAFTA award nominated television series,The Undateables [1]. This show gives a unique insight into what it is like to date for people with a disability or learning difficulty, giving viewers the chance to learn more about the lives of people with conditions such as Tourette’s syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Down’s syndrome. This popular show is now in its 7th series; however the reviews are not all positive. Despite the The science behind the programmes ‘apparent’ premise of changing attitudes towards people disorders with disabilities, is it inadvertently causing more harm than good? …….……………………

Whilst romance is certainly covered, information about the different disorders the individuals have on The Undateables is most definitely lacking. One disorder that is frequently depicted on the show is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Autism Spectrum Disorder …….…………………… Figure 1: Undateables cast (2016) Our attitudes shape the way we think, feel, and behave under certain ASD refers to a group of related conditions that situations [2]. Throughout history, attitudes towards disability have affect a person’s ability to been highly negative, including perceptions that people with a communicate and socially disability are inferior, hopeless, and in some cultures, the belief that interact with others [18]. disability is a curse and associated with evil spirits [3]. The last The extent to which these century has saw many atrocities against people with disabilities; social problems affect including laws being passed encouraging the segregation, behaviour varies, which is sterilization and killing of 1000s of people with disabilities [4]. Such why ASD covers a broad laws were influenced by the beliefs that they were a detriment to range of similar conditions, society, along with the growing movements towards eugenic ideals which lie on a continuum (improving humanity by discouraging the reproduction of people based on their severity. perceived to have genetically undesirable traits) in the early 20th Note: the following content has been century [4, 5]. It was primarily that advocated this view, sourced from the NHS [18] though other countries in Europe as well as the USA, also held similar attitudes towards people with disabilities [4]. Signs & Symptoms …….…………………… Thankfully such laws in our society have now been abolished; attitudes have changed a remarkable amount over the past century, • Delayed speech however, even today a negative stigma remains surrounding the development in pre- topic of disability [6]: school children PPP-3003 2 • Little interest in

engaging with others • Over ⅓ of individuals feel that there is a great deal of • Gaze avoidance prejudice present in society • Difficulty in towards people with a disability [6]. understanding • Over ⅓ of people perceive people sarcasm with a disability as being less • Little/no imaginative capable and less productive than social play individuals who are not disabled [6]. • Not understanding the typical ‘rules’ of • Encountering negative attitudes is social interaction for common, including ones of pity, example saying hello mockery, and patronisation [7]. Percentage of people who view disabled and goodbye when • People with disabilities people as less productive [6]. meeting someone frequently report feelings of new and not social isolation and exclusion from society [6]. following the back- and-fourth nature of These stigmatizing attitudes can act as a barrier against people with a conversation. a disability, stealing away their rights to equal opportunities in • Reduced use of education, jobs, and social relationships [8]. Unicef claims: gestures and facial expressions to aid in “Disability is not the impairment itself, but rather attitudes communication and environmental barriers that result in disability” [9]. • Liking to keep a set, daily routine and It’s vital that the stigma surrounding disability comes to a halt, so that becoming very individuals who are disabled can live a life free of fear from being uncomfortable when discriminated against. But how can something as large scale as this this routine is altered be achieved? Well, various psychological research has showcased Note: the above content was the influential impact that the media has in the shaping of personal sourced from the NHS [18] and societal attitudes towards disability [10]. There has been a continuous tendency for the media to frame those with a disability as victims who possess unfavourable personalities and inadequate social skills [11]. And this tendency only goes to reinforce negative stereotypes that people with disabilities should be pitied and avoided [11]. The Undateables is a programme which supposedly challenges these negative stereotypes by showing a more accurate representation of people living with a disability. However, its success in doing so is debateable.

The good

The show provides a novel representation of people with a disability, Figure 7: ASD triad of impairments instead of being a ‘bog-standard’ documentary, it is presented in a way which is engaging and has a light-hearted tone. Along with the current popularity of dating shows, the producers have intertwined disability with romance, and as the award nominations go to show, this makes for engaging viewing. In addition, many of the individuals on the programme hold down jobs, changing the negative stereotype that people with disabilities are less capable than those without a disability [6]. Figure 8: Signs of Autism (video) PPP-3003 3

Conditions that may be less known to the public, such as Williams syndrome and expressive aphasia are being placed on prime-time Prevalence television [20], the perfect time to increase public awareness about …….…………………… conditions people may otherwise not have heard about! The fact that this programme has been placed on prime-time TV is significant. • ASD affects Throughout history there has been an under-representation of people approximately 1 out with disabilities in films and television programmes. And even when of every 100 people they are portrayed on the TV, one research study found that 95% of within the UK. There actors casted into a role featuring a disability were actually able- are varying opinions bodied actors [12]. This finding reinforces how people with disabilities on whether there is a are discriminated against in the ‘job-world’ through exclusion. We link between gender have rightly fought for the equal rights of women and people of colour and ASD [18]. on our screens, but when will we fight for people with disabilities? The • Anello et al (2009 Undateables is a show which features real people with real [14]) suggest that disabilities, and is a step in the right direction towards the full ASD is more acceptance and inclusion of people with a disability or learning common in males difficulty in the media. than females with a ratio of 4:1. The bad • However others First impressions count, and its sufficient to say that in the case of claim females are The Undateables, the title is less than favourable.The opening title more likely to be sequence displays a cupids arrow displacing the ‘un’ from under-diagnosed ‘undateable’ in an effort to show how the programme will change the due to them misconceived attitudes society holds about dating and disability [13]. presenting differently However, critics have labelled the title as offensive [13], and that the to males [15,16]. action of removing the ‘un’ is that subtle that viewers are still left with the enduring image of disability having an association with being Causes ‘undateable’. …….…………………… • Despite extensive research, the exact cause of ASD remains unknown [18]. • Research indicates that genetics may influence a child’s vulnerability in Figure 2: The opening titles for the programme The Undateables developing ASD A further issue with the programme is how disability is being used as [18]. a form of entertainment. It is true that there is a need to increase the • Environmental presence of disability in the media, however, whether it will be triggers such as successful in changing people’s negative attitudes depends on how being born these individuals are being portrayed. prematurely and exposure to certain Take Richard for example, who has been diagnosed with Autism [14]. toxins may also During one episode, Richards mood increase a person’s goes sour after finding out his blind date genetic vulnerability lives further away than he is comfortable to developing ASD travelling to. He becomes extremely [18]. anxious and annoyed during the • ASD is known to be journey, and the narrator remarks Figure 3: Would Like To Meet. Richard’s associated with “even on a dry run, leaving his promotional shot for The Undateables numerous other conditions, including PPP-3003 4 comfort zone is making him anxious” [15]. This was the sole comment used by the narrator regarding how Richard dealt with the journey to his date. This minimalistic narrating style failed to inform the audience of why Richard may have felt this way, as people with ASD are often resistant to change and typically do not Down’s syndrome, like doing things out of their normal routine or travelling to unknown cerebral palsy and places [16]. Set routines and having particular transport routes are neurofibromatosis two ways in which they try to control their environment to avoid [18]. feelings of anxiety and stress [16]. The use of the word ‘even’ in the narrator’s comment almost ridicules and demeans his condition, patronising his behaviour despite this need and dependency on stability being a well-documented characteristic of ASD [16]. Many people took to social media following Richard’s appearance on the show, finding his annoyed mood humorous [17].It is easy to laugh at what we don’t understand; following a survey of public attitudes, many people believed that educating people about disability was the key to raising “understanding and acceptance” [2]. Perhaps if The Undateables was to be more informative, then the public would not Figure 9: What is the cause of act so mockingly towards people with a disability. Autism? (Video)

Figure 5: First dates: a reality dating show produced by Channel 4 which features people eating out at the ‘first date’s restaurant’

Figure 4: The Undateables trailer (series 1: video) Furthering this point, one of the main characteristics of ASD is having difficulties in communicating and responding to social situations [18]: gaze avoidance and delayed language skills also come into play with this social impairment [18]. An example of this can be found in the above trailer for the show. Many of the public are finding amusement and laughing from watching such situations, without potentially fully acknowledging that the cause of this ‘awkwardness’ on the date is not because of the individual per se, but as part of their condition. This is not an Figure 6: An internet meme that has been created based on the show The episode of the show First dates where people without disabilities Undateables or learning difficulties enter the show and have awkward first encounters, the undateables specifically features people who have problems dealing with such situations, and it seems highly immoral for this to be taken as a form of entertainment. It could also be considered exploitative, individuals with low functioning autism may lack the capacity to give truly informed consent by taking part in the show, and fully knowing what this participation will entail (e.g. numerous videos and harmful internet memes being produced based on clips of their behaviour) [19]. It is unknown PPP-3003 5 how many safeguards have been applied to this show in ensuring the safety of such individuals, and in the end, it comes down to balancing the persons own autonomy (their ability to decide for themselves and make their independent choices) and justice (understanding when a person may not be capable of self-determining their actions and when someone else must make them for them) [19]. The Undateables touches the line between these issues and it’s important that if this show continues, that issues like this are raised and managed appropriately, for certain people with severe disabilities may be vulnerable to this form of exploitation. The fact that this show solely focuses on people with disabilities and learning difficulties acts, in a way, as a modern day form of segregation. Yes, this form of segregation is nowhere near as appalling as the segregation that was witnessed in the early 20th century, but it is still separating people with a disability from society. Instead of the show only featuring people with disabilities, why aren’t they featured more frequently on other shows such as First dates or Take me out. Existing dating shows should be more inclusive in its participant diversity, for The Undateables may be contributing to the disempowerment felt by people with disabilities in today’s world. In addition, the trailer for the show labels disabled individuals as ‘extraordinary’, when in fact they are just ordinary people who happen to have a disability. This type of language is, again, excluding these people from the rest of society. What should the media do to avoid maintaining negative stereotypes of people with a disability? It is understandable that the media is a vicious world, competing for high rankings and lots viewers may become the sole reason for airing a show. However, we have got to be careful when the people featured in these shows may be vulnerable to exploitation. Although The Undateables may help to break some negative stereotypes regarding people with disabilities (such as challenging the fact that people with disabilities are less capable than non-disabled individuals at holding down a job). But when the show is being used for entertainment purposes and not educational, the show may in fact be hurting the portrayal of disability in media, continuing the heavy line of unjust stigmatisation that has been expressed in previous years. If the media wishes to improve the attitudes towards disability and its portrayal, then drastic changes are required. Firstly, it is important that the language and labels used to describe disability and intellectual difficulties are non-harmful in their delivery and portrayal of those with a disability. In the case of The Undateables, even the title name could be branded as offensive. Secondly, the media should be more inclusive; by increasing the presence of disability in television programmes and films, it will potentially help to stop this modern day form of segregation and exclusion. Finally, It is vital that the public are made more aware of conditions such as ASD, Down’s syndrome, and Williams syndrome in order to reduce the misinterpretation of behaviour; for example laughing at an individual who has Autism for their ‘awkward behaviour’ despite it being a symptom of their condition. We have come a long way in changing people’s attitudes towards disability, but as this programme goes to show, we still have a long way to go until equality and the rightful treatment of people with a disability has been met.

PPP-3003 6

References 1. The Undateables: Bafta nomination (2017). Sourced from http://www.bafta.org/scotland/whats-on/bafta-scotland-and-channel-4-present-the- undateables-masterclass-members-drinks 2. Attitudes and how it shapes behaviour (2014). Sourced from http://www.scope.org.uk/Scope/media/Images/Publication%20Directory/Current- attitudes-towards-disabled-people.pdf 3. Past and Present Perceptions Towards Disability: A Historical Perspective (2012). Sourced from http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/3197/3068 4. From Eugenic Euthanasia to Habilitation of ``Disabled'' Children: Andreas Rett's Contribution (2009). Sourced from http://journals.sagepub.com.ezproxy.bangor.ac.uk/doi/pdf/10.1177/0883073808321763 5. Definition of Eugenics (2012). Sourced from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/eugenics 6. Public Perceptions of Disabled People: British Social Attitudes Survey (2009). Sourced from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/325989/p pdp.pdf 7. Disability Studies: An Interdisciplinary Introduction (2016). Sourced from https://books.google.co.uk/books?isbn=1473987695 8. The stigma of disease and disability: Understanding people with disease (2016). Sourced from http://psycnet.apa.org/record/2013-25091-000 9. Unicef quote (2012). Sourced from https://www.unicef.org/protection/index_66543.html 10. Stigma or Empowerment? What Do Disabled People Say About Their Representation In News and Entertainment Media? (2014). Sourced from http://www.rdsjournal.org/index.php/journal/article/viewFile/45/173 11. Images that Injure: Pictorial Stereotypes in the Media (2003). Sourced from https://books.google.co.uk/books?isbn=027597846X 12. THE RUDERMAN WHITE PAPERON EMPLOYMENT OF ACTORS WITH DISABILIITES IN TELEVISION (2016). Sourced from http://www.rudermanfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/TV-White-Paper_7-1- 003.pdf 13. The Undateables branded 'offensive' and exploitative by doctors criticising the Channel 4 reality show (2015). Sourced from http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/undateables- branded-offensive-exploitative-doctors-5940488 14. Richard and ASD. Sourced from http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the- undateables/profiles/series-1/richard-series-1/652 15. Narrators quote about Richard (The undateables: series 7, episode 4). Sourced from http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-undateables/episode-guide 16. Obsessions, repetitive behaviour and routines. Sourced from http://www.autism.org.uk/about/behaviour/obsessions-repetitive-routines.aspx 17. The Undateables social media responses (2017). Sourced from http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/760927/The-Undateables-Richard-F-Kent- BEST-show-moment-ever-Channel-4 18. NHS autism spectrum disorder: overview, symptoms, causes. Sourced from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/ 19. Informed Consent in Adults with Autism: Ethical and Legal Considerations in the United States (2014). Sourced from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268143694_Informed_Consent_in_Adults_with _Autism_Ethical_and_Legal_Considerations_in_the_United_States PPP-3003 7

20. Conditions on the undateables (Williams syndrome and aphasia). Sourced from http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-undateables/episode-guide Pictures and video references

Figure 1. The undateables cast (2017). Sourced from https://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/tvfilm/the-undateables-channel-4-james-tammy- and-tom-look-for-love-in-series-5-episode-1-a3148386.html Figure 2. The undateables title page. Sourced from http://www.channel4.com Figure 3: Would Like To Meet. Richard’s promotional shot for The Undateables. Sourced from http://www.channel4.com Figure 4: The Undateables trailer (series 1: video). Sourced from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkqQwWX4x-Q Figure 5: First dates: a reality dating show produced by Channel 4 which features people eating out at the ‘first date’s restaurant’. Sourced from http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/712829/Channel-Four-First-Dates-ma- tre-d-Fred-Sirieix-book-release-The-Art-Of-Love Figure 6: An internet meme that has been created based on the show The Undateables. Sourced from https://memecrunch.com/meme/E312/undateables Figure 7: ASD triad of impairments. Sourced from https://www.clinical-partners.co.uk/for- adults/autism-and-aspergers/symptoms-of-autism Figure 8: Signs of Autism (Video: 2013). Sourced from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J4RHmO6LAE Figure 9: What is the cause of Autism? (Video: 2012). Sourced from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoCD0asRXvc

Additional pictures and visual aids A. Red cupid. Sourced from http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago- literati/2014/02/pixiehammer-press-letter-writing-service-adds-a-unique-touch-to- valentines-day/ B. Pie chart based off data from British Social Attitudes Survey (2009). Sourced from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/32 5989/ppdp.pdf C. Play sign for videos. Retrieved from http://archive.motoringtv.com/