Disabling masculinity: The isolation of a captive audience

Alison Wilde*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this article, I propose that disabled people tend to engage with and interpret images of people with impairments in a variety of ways that have some degree of correspondence to their structural contexts and their differential access to discursive resources. Contending that gender concerns play a crucial role in the interpretative performances of both disabled and non-disabled participants, it is argued that soap operas are an alienating experience for men in general. I propose that the placement of impairment and disability narratives within the soap opera's structure, as a specific genre, is a particularly demeaning experience for disabled men. Finally, I raise some questions about agency and resistance in such viewing practices, making specific reference to the experiences of disabled men.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)355-370
Number of pages16
JournalDisability and Society
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2004
Externally publishedYes

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion keywords

  • Disability Equality

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