We’re Not Here for Your Inspiration by Stella Young talks about how it’s become commonplace in todays society to use those with disabilities as objects of inspiration. Whether it be via social media and the sharing of inspirational quotes atop pictures of the disabled or by congratulating someone for merely riding public transportation as Young experienced. This trend of “Inspiration Porn” may not seem harmful to those who propagate it, for those who are the focus however Young states “It’s there so that non-disabled people can look at us and think “well, it could be worse… I could be that person” (Young, Stella). It’s this feeling of objectification that those who find themselves the subject of Inspiration Porn resent.
In this blog I will be elaborating on the how this motivational media is used and looking at a few examples of it. A quick Google search of “Inspiration” or “disability inspiration” results in many images such as the one below appearing. Many of these images focus on disabled athletes performing feats of strength and skill.
And while Young agrees that those who do overcome real challenges deserve recognition, the way in which it is done glorifies those with disabilities even when it is not warranted. For instance this picture of a young boy playing basketball in a wheelchair with the quote “Your excuse is invalid.” beside it. This suggests that if he can do something without the use of his legs then you, as a presumably able bodied person, have no excuse to not succeed too. Young states that “It’s no coincidence that these genuinely adorable disabled kids in these images are never named: it doesn’t matter what their names are, they’re just there as objects of inspiration.” This seems to hold true across much of the “Inspiration Porn”, as naming the subjects of the picture take a backseat to the quotes plastered atop them.
Another example of this trend and one that Young mentions is this picture of a girl with no hands drawing using her mouth. A strong point that Young makes is that this girl is merely using her body to the best of her ability, she says “So that image of the kid drawing a picture with the pencil held in her mouth instead of her hand? That’s just the best way for her, in her body, to do it. For her, it’s normal.” (Young, Stella).
I feel that the perspective brought forward by Stella Young is one that more people should take into consideration when discussing the disabled. Objectifying a group for the motivation of others, even when done unintentionally, is unnecessary and harmful. I believe that many do not understand the concept of “Inspiration Porn” and how it affects those with disabilities. Speakers and writers such as Stella Young are doing important work to bring the issue to the forefront by sharing their personal experiences.
“Im not your Inspiration, thank you very much” – A ted talk by Stella Young
Citations
Young, Stella. “We’re Not Here for Your Inspiration.” – Blog – ABC Ramp Up (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). N.p., 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2016.
