Oh, movies with stories of people with disabilities! Often inspiring, some winners of big awards, like the Oscars… but often, even with good intentions, they end up being ableist and practicing cripface.
Want to understand more about the relationship between ableism, cripface and representativeness? In this article, we will answer the most frequently asked questions about the topic. Read to the end!
The term designates the practice of people without disabilities playing characters with disabilities, who occupy places that could very well, and in fact should, be filled by PWDs.
And, if you are now wondering if cripface is ableism, the answer is: yes! Cripface is an ableist practice used, normally, in:
Cripface is a combination of the words “crippled” (“deficiência”), and “face” (“rosto”).
Its origin is similar to that of the term “blackface’” which describes the practice of a white person characterizing themselves as a black character.
First of all, it is important to emphasize: productions that give visibility to people with disabilities are always welcome! However, visibility is not enough — it is necessary to guarantee protagonism.
The reality is that a person without a disability, when playing characters with disabilities, will certainly bring stigmatized interpretations with stereotypes — as we have already seen in several works. Some of the most common examples are:
This type of practice ends up having the opposite effect to the desired one: by incorrectly appropriating narratives, stories and culture of these people, the work ridicules and disrespects PWDs, generating even more discrimination.
In this way, people with disabilities do not feel fully represented and continue to be made invisible.
» See also: 7 movies about Deaf culture and people that you need to watch
Perhaps the most immediate tip is: for an authentic representation, let artists with disabilities represent characters with disabilities! Nothing better than a person within their place of speech acting legitimately about their universe. It is an opportunity to give voice to their experiences, cultures and experiences, which can bring more authenticity and representativeness to the stories.
Disability should not be seen as an obstacle to an artistic career — what prevents it are the accessibility barriers that come from the entertainment industry.
In addition to the tip above, a fundamental point is: do not hire artists with disabilities only to play PWDs — after all, disability is part of the person, but not their complete identity. As the very term “people with disabilities” brings, the person comes before their disability.
Yes, all diversity needs to be represented. But the time has passed when advertising pieces with a white person, a black person, one with a disability, among other cutouts, were enough to consider a brand as “diverse”.
So, if your intention is to portray a person with a disability in your piece, let it be with purpose: having a relevant role in the story and contributing to the narrative.
We talked a lot about actors and actresses with disabilities, but the backstage also matters! Therefore, consider hiring PWDs to participate in all stages of the material, including diversity and inclusion consultants. After all, the more diverse a team is, the more creative and with different perspectives it can be!
To include, it is necessary to offer accessibility in the studios or recording locations. The installation of access ramps and hiring of sign language interpreters are some examples of resources that can, and should, be used for complete inclusion.
Series and movies are reflections of our society, therefore, the anti-ableist movement and attitude must start with us.
Being anti-ableist is offering the other the possibility to express themselves, and technology can be a great ally in this fight — especially with regard to communication.
What do you think about starting to break the communication barrier with deaf people, who use the Sign Language, by learning their language?
The Hand Talk App is a pocket dictionary of ASL (American Sign Language), which promotes connection and communication between hearing and deaf people, combining virtual intelligence with a playful and fun experience. Download it!
This article was translated by artificial intelligence and reviewed by humans.
