Last Sunday, as Meryl Streep accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards, she decided to give a speech that caused quite a bit of controversy. You probably saw it. I mean who didn’t? It was immediately posted online, and within half an hour social media was swarmed with either outrage or praise on the actresses’ acceptance speech.
As per usual, conservative republicans everywhere felt the need to express their distaste over the incident. Donald Trump even posted a Tweet after the event, deeming Streep an “overrated actress.” I guess he decided to overlook the fact that Streep was accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award.
On the other side of the argument, Streep was applauded for the beautiful dignity behind her words. She gave a moving speech about the injustice and thoughtlessness regarding our President-Elect’s actions without even once saying his name. She voiced her opinions about a familiar event and discussed the necessary action we must take to protect our right off free speech. Streep delivered this while staying perfectly respectful to a man who, frankly, has done little to deserve respect.
Obviously, if I were to pick a side, I would agree more with the latter argument. I think celebrities have an obligation to use public platforms, such as the Golden Globes, to address issues that desperately need to be discussed. However, I do have a few problems with specific incident that Streep brought attention to.
Back in 2015, Donald Trump received a lot of backlash for mocking reporter, Serge Kovaleski. It has been argued by many Trump supporters the he has made the same gestures that were directed toward Kovaleski when mocking other, non-disabled people. I think the questions we have to ask ourselves are: “Is that any better? Do I want someone is the most powerful seat in the country to be mocking anyone?”
This brings me to my main point. Why did Meryl Streep feel the need to pinpoint this specific incident? Why is this one example the one that comes to everyone’s mind? Trump says and does appalling things daily. He offends at least one group every time he gets up on stage to give a speech. However, there’s a stigma attached to people with disabilities that makes this incident his worst offense. In fact, it’s not okay to mock anyone. We are supposed to learn in our earliest years that mocking people is rude and socially unacceptable. But it’s the idea we have about individuals with disabilities that fuels everyone’s anger regarding this incident. It is human nature to apply labels to things, and no matter how sub-conscious it may be, we let it alter of perception of certain people and things.
Much of the outrage surrounding the incident stems from the perception that comes from the stigmatization and social perception of disabilities. In her speech, Streep played into this stigma by referring to Kovaleski as “someone out-ranked in privilege, power, and the capacity to fight back.” Yes, President-elect, Trump obviously out-ranks a journalist like Kovaleski in power and privilege and arguably in the capacity to fight back. Streep failed, however, in her attempt to represent herself as an activist for disability rights when she failed to clarify the reason for Kovaleski being out-ranked. Most all journalist, and most Americans in general, would be out-ranked by a business person as successful as Trump, and certainly by the president-elect. He was out-ranked, but not because of his disability.
As a member of this group that society perceives as weak and defenseless, I personally did not feel advocated for in Streep’s speech. In the realm of disability rights, equal employment opportunities, and accessibility (just to name a few), this speech only perpetuated the idea that disabled lives revolve around disability. And while her words might have been meant to speak for those who don’t have the opportunity to speak up for themselves, they labeled and marginalized Kovaleski, rather than acknowledging the success and power he has as a journalist. It is likely that Serge Kovaleski will always be known to the world as “the disabled journalist who was mocked by Donald Trump.” Forever be remembered for that associated with the one act of humiliation performed by someone who is supposed to be a representative of, and advocate for all people. When Streep brought this incident to attention, its results were the same as the mockery – it highlighted Kovaleski’s disability rather than his accomplishments as a journalist.
Let me be clear, I am in no way chastising Meryl Streep. I respect and admire her courage to take a stand, at the risk of personal scrutiny, for things she felt needed to be said. I don’t think Streep had anything but good intentions. I wish, however, that she had expanded her point to envelop all people, the young and the old, the rich and the poor, the able and the disabled, who deserve respect and dignity.
There has been some backlash in the disabled community regarding Streep’s speech, saying things like, “We have bigger issues to worry about than Trumps mockery.” And that’s right, we do. As someone with a disability, my worry runs deeper than this superficial mockery. The GOP’s attempt to repeal the affordable care act could potentially make access to healthcare and medications necessary to disabled individuals nearly impossible. Changes in finance to Medicaid could lead to cutbacks in services that we rely on daily.
None of this, however, disputes Streep’s point. “Disrespect invites disrespect.” This is an undeniable claim. By allowing someone in a position of power to mock anyone gives permission for others to do the same.
