Reality shows are sometimes ridiculous ("Jersey Shore") and fake ("The Hills"), but nonetheless, they are guilty pleasures. The latest reality show to air on the BBC is a take on Top Model. The show will have beautiful girls competing to be Britain's next top model. However, the girls are all disabled–from an amputee to a girl in a wheelchair, the show will have it all. I find it a bit disturbing, it's like these girls are being exploited for the sake of entertainment. Thoughts?
– Andy
good concept.
I think if it is done right it could be very good for everyone to see disable people looking beautiful, especially here in America. I think we get so focused on everyone’s looks and if there is the smallest deformity or handicap, we look the other way.
It will be interesting to see how this goes.
well i doubt anyone held a gun to their head to participate
I agree wholeheartedly with Jason.
While I think that the actor who portrays Artie on Glee, for example, does a wonderful job, we have a tendency to skip the individuals who are ACTUALLY in the wheelchair when it comes to handing out the jobs. And the sex for that matter. Maybe showing these individuals in an equal light will help level the playing field. All I saw in that preview were attractive women who had the benefit of professional makeup and wardrobe. Would we have known right from the start that they had different abilities if we hadn’t been told?
Honestly, I had to watch the clip twice before I noticed any disabilities. Great idea that I think everyone can benefir from.
Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes deeper.
As a community we could also learn from this.
Counterpoint to the cheerleaders above: In a very real sense, all these contestants are segregated into a “separate but equal(?)” contest – as though to say the winner will be the best contestant among all those who happen to also have a disability, as opposed to winning a contest with a bunch of other people while happening to have a disability.
Counterpoint to the cheerleaders above: In a very real sense, all these contestants are segregated into a “separate but equal(?)” contest – as though to say the winner will be the best contestant among all those who happen to also have a disability, as opposed to winning a contest with a bunch of other people while happening to have a disability.
This is a tricky area between de-marginalization and exploitation.
On one hand, it’s a great idea to highlight women with disabilities and show that they are beautiful too.
On the other hand, why are they doing this by fitting these women into the mold of the traditional beauty? They imply that they challenge the superficial definition of beauty, yet they doll up and glamorize these women using all the superficial standards, as if to detract from or cover up their disabilities. The porn-ish music and styling of the trailer definitely doesn’t help. Modeling can be seen as a mild form of exploitation even for non-disabled women. In this case, it’s almost creepy, with a hint of fetish lurking underneath. Ultimately, this trailer left an uncomfortable feeling in my gut.
I am not disabled but I would date a disabled girl if she’s pretty and nice.
no hand? no leg? can’t dance? fine! now let me kiss you.
I am not disabled but I would date a disabled girl if she’s pretty and nice.
no hand? no leg? can’t dance? fine! now let me kiss you.