MAPACA

Mid-Atlantic Popular &
American Culture Association

In relying on the framework of Social Identity Theory and a short questionnaire administered to twelve disabled individuals with popular Instagram accounts, we ask the question: Is a more visible presence of active, stylish, and ‘cool’ disabled individuals on social media helped strengthen the confidence and pride, and the overall inclusion of being disabled in one’s identity. The presence of pop-culture figures (for example tennis player Dylan Alcott, comedian Josh Blue, and model Madeline Stuart) who are disabled, have lessened the social stigmas disabled people have internalized and accepted; however, with social media being a staple in the American culture many individuals who are disabled are now able to share their identities with the ease of hitting ‘post.’ Due to social media and individuals who are disabled posting and therefore being positively represented, i.e. in gyms, while playing sports, modeling in fashion shoots, as well as in sexy, revealing poses, a new collection of norms are being established and, of equal importance, many commonly held norms are being broken and new aspects of the disabled community are not just forming but easily seen.
Returning to social identity theory (and the question of a more confident ‘disabled’ identity), it is established that the group, whether it be a sports league, religion, or career lifestyle, which an individual belongs to is a basis of self-esteem. It stimulates an overall positive connection and identity to a group. So is it now that this exposure of the disabled population motivating confidence and pride within the disabled community which wasn’t there pre-social media? Have today’s post of amputees with ripped gym bodies and glamour girls in wheelchairs created a confident, outspoken, and perhaps arrogant group who historically have accepted being pitied and written off as handicapped and crippled.