Social Attitude Toward the Handicapped Written in Newspaper

埼玉県越谷市Although it is difficult to grasp real social attitude toward the handicapped, it may be unserstood through articles in newspapers to a certain extent. I have continued to analyse newspaper articles about the handicapped since five years ago. This report is only about last year. As it was "International Year of Disabled Person" in 1981, there were three times as many as in the year before last. The newspapers which I used were Asahi, Mainichi and Yomiuri, of course morning and evening edition of those. The articles which were clipped from newspaper were classified into following catagories. I the handicapped -1 the handicapped themselves -2 family of the handicapped -3 life sphere of the handicapped II social welfare and education -1 education -2 occupation -3 social welfare system III society -1 volunteer and charity -2 opinion toward the handicapped -3 international year of disabled person IV surrounging problems -1 development of medical treatment -2 medical ethics -3 pollution and everything injuring health -4 genetic engineering -5 organ transplantation and organ development -6 euthanasia and hospice movement -7 pregnancy and birth -8 movie, TV and publication -9 the others: the aged, traffic accident, cancer. As a result of analyse, following tendency is revealed. At first, kinds of handicap that presses dealt with were restricted. They were mainly crippled, blind and deaf. Chronic disease and psychopath were neglected. People are apt to imagine wheel chair, white cane or manual method as a symbol of the handicapped. Second, handicap itself is exaggerated, and effort, suffering and straggle are stressed. But expression of handicap is in a roudabout and too polite way. Then human warmth of the handicapped seems to disappear. These expression are open to diametrically diametrically oppossite interpretation. That is to say, it may be discrimination. Persons who are engaged in social welfare facilities are beautifulized in newspaper. Volunteers are same. But handicapped persons who ask for assistance are always passive, then the equality of human isn't expressed