Stereotyping differently-abled persons in films, visual media perpetuate discrimination, says Supreme Court
The HinduA Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud held on July 8 that stereotyping differently-abled persons in visual media and films perpetuate discrimination and creators ought to provide an accurate representation of disabilities rather than mocking or mythifying them. The judgment, described as “path-breaking” by Justice J.B. Pardiwala on the Bench, denounced the use of words like ‘cripple’, ‘spastic’, etc, which stigmatise disabled persons. Chief Justice Chandrachud drew attention to how films and visual media tend to perpetuate myths about disabilities. “Insensitive language is contrary to the dignity of persons with disabilities… Language which disparages disabled persons, marginalises them further and supplements the disabling barriers to their social participation is problematic… Such language impairs the objective societal treatment of the affected group by the society,” Chief Justice Chandrachud explained.
History of this topic
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