Zachary Girsbergerpolitical correctness and the paralympics
September 18th 2008 03:36
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I recently overheard two conflicting conversations related to the paralympics.
The first involved complaints about the paralympics not receiving the media coverage it deserved. The second was a description of a swimming event at the games, involving "a spastic with no legs getting beaten by a spastic with no arms"
As shocking as this may sound, I think in contrast with the first example, it provides a fascinating insight into the different ways our society thinks about disability, and more specifically, disability in sport.
We all love to hear stories of courage, such as the occasional media snippet that pops up of some bloke who is getting out there and playing AFL despite the fact that he had his left arm mangled in a freak shaving accident. "Good on him", we say. "Sure, he was a bit of a goose to try shaving his arm with a whipper snipper in the first place, but at least he's getting out there and having a go."
While a mangled left arm may fall within the accepted range of "still walks on two legs and can talk properly" disabilities, things get a bit murkier when it comes to supporting sportspeople who may be in wheelchairs or have intellectual disabilities.
Yes, we were all wanting louise Sauvage to win gold at Sydney in the demonstration race, because it made us feel warm and fuzzy - a bit like we were caring for a dog with a broken leg. But it wasn't meaningful support. Of course, we all remember Cathy Freeman's triumph in the 100m sprint, but does anyone remember where Sauvage finished? (For the record, she won gold).
The first involved complaints about the paralympics not receiving the media coverage it deserved. The second was a description of a swimming event at the games, involving "a spastic with no legs getting beaten by a spastic with no arms"
As shocking as this may sound, I think in contrast with the first example, it provides a fascinating insight into the different ways our society thinks about disability, and more specifically, disability in sport.
We all love to hear stories of courage, such as the occasional media snippet that pops up of some bloke who is getting out there and playing AFL despite the fact that he had his left arm mangled in a freak shaving accident. "Good on him", we say. "Sure, he was a bit of a goose to try shaving his arm with a whipper snipper in the first place, but at least he's getting out there and having a go."
While a mangled left arm may fall within the accepted range of "still walks on two legs and can talk properly" disabilities, things get a bit murkier when it comes to supporting sportspeople who may be in wheelchairs or have intellectual disabilities.
Yes, we were all wanting louise Sauvage to win gold at Sydney in the demonstration race, because it made us feel warm and fuzzy - a bit like we were caring for a dog with a broken leg. But it wasn't meaningful support. Of course, we all remember Cathy Freeman's triumph in the 100m sprint, but does anyone remember where Sauvage finished? (For the record, she won gold).
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