When you see a photo of an individual or child with a disability next to an inspiring quote, what is your initial reaction?
If you may have responded something along the lines of, "aw that is so cute. I shouldn't be complaining about my life when I see someone else has it way harder" then you are guilty of falling into the trap of 'Inspiration Porn'.
Inspiration Porn is when a person who is able-bodied seeks motivation and inspiration through viewing images of people with a disability as "inspiring" in order to ultimately benefit themselves. Doing this, it objectifies the individual with a disability by viewing them as someone who deserves to be praised and rewarded just because they are living their life the best way they could in their condition.
Example 1 of Inspiration Pornhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K9Gg164Bsw
Example 2 of Inspiration Porn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K9Gg164Bsw
Think for a moment... are you praised for getting out of bed? Brushing your teeth? Is that supposed to be inspiring to others in some way even though you are living your life and doing normal daily activities?
People with disabilities ARE NOT inspiring, and they do not deserve to be treated or viewed in a way that is meant to uplift you, just because they have a disability and you do not.
According to Stella Young; a comedian, journalist, and activist for people with disabilities in her Ted Talk "I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much", Young goes into great detail about moments throughout her life when she was approached and wanted to be nominated for her achievement within her community, although she has never truly done anything worth being rewarded. This is a prime example of how in today's society, individuals who have a disability are viewed completely differently than those who do not, and typically more negatively. The term, Inspiration Porn, formed by Young strongly demonstrates a coined idea that individuals with disabilities live with a burden, and need to face obstacles (the disability itself and life in general) in order to get by one day at a time.
One thing is for sure, regardless of one's disability, this does not take away the fact that a person with a disability, is still a person.
There just is nothing right about the idea of a person using another individuals disability as a form of making them feel better about themselves. If you truly need the motivation to get out of bed or go to the gym, there are plenty of other ways to do so. Listen to some pump-up music, light a candle, something a little less... degrading.
Looking at a person who has a disability as if they have a disadvantage in life only pities an entire minority group for being different than an able-bodied person and exemplifies the need for one to be praised just for living. This ultimately ties into the way people with disabilities are viewed in general in this society; as beings who may be different, less than, not as smart, not as able, fearful and misunderstood. By understanding that pictures like this are objectifying, and making improvements in our everyday norm such as using people first language (Ex. My friend with Autism, rather than my Autistic friend), and relieving words with a negative tone about disability is one step further to change the way disability is overall viewed.
If we do not change the language we use around people with disabilities and the connotation and stereotype they somehow associate with, ideas will remain the same, people will continually become more objectified, and we as a society will never move forward to reduce this stigma.
Be an advocate, use your voice, and remember always that we as human beings deserve nothing but respect always and should not ever have to settle for anything less.