Images of athletes with disabilities: an analysis of photographs from the 2012 Paralympic Games

The purpose of this study was to explore how the print media portrayed athletes with disabilities during the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. An analysis was conducted of photographic images of the 2012 Paralympic Games and athletes in 12 newspapers with top circulation from 5 countries during the 12 days of competition, August 29 through September 9, 2012. Eleven categorical variables were examined to determine how the Paralympic athletes were represented in print media photographs. Chi-square analysis was used to look at the relationships between variables. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, frequencies, and crosstabs with chi-square analysis to compare the differences between the variables. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the presentation of an association between the variables. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. An overall difference in portrayal between male and female as well as between domestic and foreign athletes was found in the amount, coverage type, and disability of the athletes featured in the photographic images. Males were pictured more often than females, reinforcing hegemonic ideals of able-bodiedness and masculinity. Even though athleticism was an important theme in the photographs of female athletes with disabilities, the performance of female athletes with disabilities was often pictured with particular emphasis on medals without their disability. Domestic athletes with disabilities were more frequently portrayed in the selected newspapers than foreign athletes with disabilities, and coverage tended to minimize their adversities and visibly maximize their successful performance regardless of disabilities. The reproduction and reinforcement of traditional attitudes and perceptions were found in portrayals of foreign athletes with disabilities. Athletes with disabilities were similarly framed by gender and by national characteristics. There were similar characteristics between female athletes and domestic athletes, and between male athletes and foreign athletes except in the amount of coverage. Photographs in the selected newspapers tended to emphasize the strength and minimize the weakness of male and domestic athletes with disabilities while pointing out the weakness and balancing commendable qualities against small shortcomings for female and foreign athletes. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries