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The science behind the disorders

…….……………………

Whilst romance is certainly covered, information about the different disorders the individuals have on The

Undateables is most definitely lacking. One

disorder that is frequently depicted on the show is

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Autism Spectrum Disorder

…….……………………

ASD refers to a group of related conditions that

affect a person’s ability to communicate and socially interact with others [18].

The extent to which these social problems affect

behaviour varies, which is why ASD covers a broad

range of similar conditions, which lie on a continuum based on their severity.

Note: the following content has been sourced from the NHS [18]

Signs & Symptoms …….……………………

• Delayed speech development in pre-school children

Breaking the stigma or lighting the fire? Attitudes towards disability and the role of the media

Love is in the air, at least on Channel 4’s BAFTA award nominated television series,The Undateables [1]. This dating show gives a unique insight into what it is like to date for people with a disability or learning difficulty, giving viewers the chance to learn more about the lives of people with conditions such as Tourette’s syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Down’s syndrome. This popular show is now in its 7th series; however the reviews are not all positive. Despite the programmes ‘apparent’ premise of changing attitudes towards people with disabilities, is it inadvertently causing more harm than good?

Our attitudes shape the way we think, feel, and behave under certain situations [2]. Throughout history, attitudes towards disability have been highly negative, including perceptions that people with a disability are inferior, hopeless, and in some cultures, the belief that disability is a curse and associated with evil spirits [3]. The last century has saw many atrocities against people with disabilities; including laws being passed encouraging the segregation, sterilization and killing of 1000s of people with disabilities [4]. Such laws were influenced by the beliefs that they were a detriment to society, along with the growing movements towards eugenic ideals (improving humanity by discouraging the reproduction of people perceived to have genetically undesirable traits) in the early 20th century [4, 5]. It was primarily Germany that advocated this view, though other countries in Europe as well as the USA, also held similar attitudes towards people with disabilities [4].

Thankfully such laws in our society have now been abolished; attitudes have changed a remarkable amount over the past century, however, even today a negative stigma remains surrounding the topic of disability [6]:

Figure 1: Undateables cast (2016)

PPP-3003 2 • Little interest in

engaging with others • Gaze avoidance • Difficulty in

understanding sarcasm

• Little/no imaginative social play

• Not understanding the typical ‘rules’ of social interaction for example saying hello and goodbye when meeting someone new and not following the back-and-fourth nature of a conversation.

• Reduced use of gestures and facial expressions to aid in communication

• Liking to keep a set, daily routine and becoming very uncomfortable when this routine is altered

Note: the above content was sourced from the NHS [18]

• Over ⅓ of individuals feel that there is a great deal of prejudice present in society towards people with a disability [6].

• Over ⅓ of people perceive people with a disability as being less capable and less productive than individuals who are not disabled [6].

• Encountering negative attitudes is common, including ones of pity, mockery, and patronisation [7].

• People with disabilities frequently report feelings of social isolation and exclusion from society [6].

These stigmatizing attitudes can act as a barrier against people with a disability, stealing away their rights to equal opportunities in education, jobs, and social relationships [8]. Unicef claims:

“Disability is not the impairment itself, but rather attitudes and environmental barriers that result in disability” [9].

It’s vital that the stigma surrounding disability comes to a halt, so that individuals who are disabled can live a life free of fear from being discriminated against. But how can something as large scale as this be achieved? Well, various psychological research has showcased the influential impact that the media has in the shaping of personal and societal attitudes towards disability [10]. There has been a continuous tendency for the media to frame those with a disability as victims who possess unfavourable personalities and inadequate social skills [11]. And this tendency only goes to reinforce negative stereotypes that people with disabilities should be pitied and avoided [11]. The Undateables is a programme which supposedly challenges these negative stereotypes by showing a more accurate representation of people living with a disability. However, its success in doing so is debateable.

The good

The show provides a novel representation of people with a disability, instead of being a ‘bog-standard’ documentary, it is presented in a way which is engaging and has a light-hearted tone. Along with the current popularity of dating shows, the producers have intertwined disability with romance, and as the award nominations go to show, this makes for engaging viewing. In addition, many of the individuals on the programme hold down jobs, changing the negative stereotype that people with disabilities are less capable than those without a disability [6].

Percentage of people who view disabled people as less productive [6].

Figure 8: Signs of Autism (video)

Figure 7: ASD triad of impairments

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Prevalence …….……………………

• ASD affects approximately 1 out of every 100 people within the UK. There are varying opinions on whether there is a link between gender and ASD [18].

• Anello et al (2009 [14]) suggest that ASD is more common in males than females with a ratio of 4:1.

• However others claim females are more likely to be under-diagnosed due to them presenting differently to males [15,16].

Causes …….……………………

• Despite extensive research, the exact cause of ASD remains unknown [18].

• Research indicates that genetics may influence a child’s vulnerability in developing ASD [18].

• Environmental triggers such as being born prematurely and exposure to certain toxins may also increase a person’s genetic vulnerability to developing ASD [18].

• ASD is known to be associated with numerous other conditions, including

Conditions that may be less known to the public, such as Williams syndrome and expressive aphasia are being placed on prime-time television [20], the perfect time to increase public awareness about conditions people may otherwise not have heard about! The fact that this programme has been placed on prime-time TV is significant. Throughout history there has been an under-representation of people with disabilities in films and television programmes. And even when they are portrayed on the TV, one research study found that 95% of actors casted into a role featuring a disability were actually able-bodied actors [12]. This finding reinforces how people with disabilities are discriminated against in the ‘job-world’ through exclusion. We have rightly fought for the equal rights of women and people of colour on our screens, but when will we fight for people with disabilities? The Undateables is a show which features real people with real disabilities, and is a step in the right direction towards the full acceptance and inclusion of people with a disability or learning difficulty in the media.

The bad

First impressions count, and its sufficient to say that in the case of The Undateables, the title is less than favourable.The opening title sequence displays a cupids arrow displacing the ‘un’ from ‘undateable’ in an effort to show how the programme will change the misconceived attitudes society holds about dating and disability [13]. However, critics have labelled the title as offensive [13], and that the action of removing the ‘un’ is that subtle that viewers are still left with the enduring image of disability having an association with being ‘undateable’.

A further issue with the programme is how disability is being used as a form of entertainment. It is true that there is a need to increase the presence of disability in the media, however, whether it will be successful in changing people’s negative attitudes depends on how these individuals are being portrayed.

Take Richard for example, who has been diagnosed with Autism [14]. During one episode, Richards mood goes sour after finding out his blind date lives further away than he is comfortable travelling to. He becomes extremely anxious and annoyed during the journey, and the narrator remarks “even on a dry run, leaving his

Figure 3: Would Like To Meet. Richard’s promotional shot for The Undateables

Figure 2: The opening titles for the programme The Undateables

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Figure 5: First dates: a reality dating show produced by Channel 4 which features people eating out at the ‘first date’s restaurant’

Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy and neurofibromatosis [18].

comfort zone is making him anxious” [15]. This was the sole comment used by the narrator regarding how Richard dealt with the journey to his date. This minimalistic narrating style failed to inform the audience of why Richard may have felt this way, as people with ASD are often resistant to change and typically do not like doing things out of their normal routine or travelling to unknown places [16]. Set routines and having particular transport routes are two ways in which they try to control their environment to avoid feelings of anxiety and stress [16]. The use of the word ‘even’ in the narrator’s comment almost ridicules and demeans his condition, patronising his behaviour despite this need and dependency on stability being a well-documented characteristic of ASD [16]. Many people took to social media following Richard’s appearance on the show, finding his annoyed mood humorous [17].It is easy to laugh at what we don’t understand; following a survey of public attitudes, many people believed that educating people about disability was the key to raising “understanding and acceptance” [2]. Perhaps if The Undateables was to be more informative, then the public would not act so mockingly towards people with a disability.

Furthering this point, one of the main characteristics of ASD is having difficulties in communicating and responding to social situations [18]: gaze avoidance and delayed language skills also come into play with this social impairment [18]. An example of this can be found in the above trailer for the show. Many of the public are finding amusement and laughing from watching such situations, without potentially fully acknowledging that the cause of this ‘awkwardness’ on the date is not because of the individual per se, but as part of their condition. This is not an episode of the show First dates where people without disabilities or learning difficulties enter the show and have awkward first encounters, the undateables specifically features people who have problems dealing with such situations, and it seems highly immoral for this to be taken as a form of entertainment. It could also be considered exploitative, individuals with low functioning autism may lack the capacity to give truly informed consent by taking part in the show, and fully knowing what this participation will entail (e.g. numerous videos and harmful internet memes being produced based on clips of their behaviour) [19]. It is unknown

Figure 4: The Undateables trailer (series 1: video)

Figure 6: An internet meme that has been created based on the show The Undateables

Figure 9: What is the cause of Autism? (Video)

PPP-3003 5 how many safeguards have been applied to this show in ensuring the safety of such individuals, and in the end, it comes down to balancing the persons own autonomy (their ability to decide for themselves and make their independent choices) and justice (understanding when a person may not be capable of self-determining their actions and when someone else must make them for them) [19]. The Undateables touches the line between these issues and it’s important that if this show continues, that issues like this are raised and managed appropriately, for certain people with severe disabilities may be vulnerable to this form of exploitation.

The fact that this show solely focuses on people with disabilities and learning difficulties acts, in a way, as a modern day form of segregation. Yes, this form of segregation is nowhere near as appalling as the segregation that was witnessed in the early 20th century, but it is still separating people with a disability from society. Instead of the show only featuring people with disabilities, why aren’t they featured more frequently on other shows such as First dates or Take me out. Existing dating shows should be more inclusive in its participant diversity, for The Undateables may be contributing to the disempowerment felt by people with disabilities in today’s world. In addition, the trailer for the show labels disabled individuals as ‘extraordinary’, when in fact they are just ordinary people who happen to have a disability. This type of language is, again, excluding these people from the rest of society.

What should the media do to avoid maintaining negative stereotypes of people with a disability?

It is understandable that the media is a vicious world, competing for high rankings and lots viewers may become the sole reason for airing a show. However, we have got to be careful when the people featured in these shows may be vulnerable to exploitation. Although The Undateables may help to break some negative stereotypes regarding people with disabilities (such as challenging the fact that people with disabilities are less capable than non-disabled individuals at holding down a job). But when the show is being used for entertainment purposes and not educational, the show may in fact be hurting the portrayal of disability in media, continuing the heavy line of unjust stigmatisation that has been expressed in previous years.

If the media wishes to improve the attitudes towards disability and its portrayal, then drastic changes are required. Firstly, it is important that the language and labels used to describe disability and intellectual difficulties are non-harmful in their delivery and portrayal of those with a disability. In the case of The Undateables, even the title name could be branded as offensive. Secondly, the media should be more inclusive; by increasing the presence of disability in television programmes and films, it will potentially help to stop this modern day form of segregation and exclusion. Finally, It is vital that the public are made more aware of conditions such as ASD, Down’s syndrome, and Williams syndrome in order to reduce the misinterpretation of behaviour; for example laughing at an individual who has Autism for their ‘awkward behaviour’ despite it being a symptom of their condition. We have come a long way in changing people’s attitudes towards disability, but as this programme goes to show, we still have a long way to go until equality and the rightful treatment of people with a disability has been met.

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References

1. The Undateables: Bafta nomination (2017). Sourced from http://www.bafta.org/scotland/whats-on/bafta-scotland-and-channel-4-present-the-undateables-masterclass-members-drinks

2. Attitudes and how it shapes behaviour (2014). Sourced from http://www.scope.org.uk/Scope/media/Images/Publication%20Directory/Current-attitudes-towards-disabled-people.pdf

3. Past and Present Perceptions Towards Disability: A Historical Perspective (2012). Sourced from http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/3197/3068

4. From Eugenic Euthanasia to Habilitation of ``Disabled'' Children: Andreas Rett's Contribution (2009). Sourced from http://journals.sagepub.com.ezproxy.bangor.ac.uk/doi/pdf/10.1177/0883073808321763

5. Definition of Eugenics (2012). Sourced from http://www.dictionary.com/browse/eugenics 6. Public Perceptions of Disabled People: British Social Attitudes Survey (2009). Sourced

from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/325989/ppdp.pdf

7. Disability Studies: An Interdisciplinary Introduction (2016). Sourced from https://books.google.co.uk/books?isbn=1473987695

8. The stigma of disease and disability: Understanding people with disease (2016). Sourced from http://psycnet.apa.org/record/2013-25091-000

9. Unicef quote (2012). Sourced from https://www.unicef.org/protection/index_66543.html 10. Stigma or Empowerment? What Do Disabled People Say About Their Representation In

News and Entertainment Media? (2014). Sourced from http://www.rdsjournal.org/index.php/journal/article/viewFile/45/173

11. Images that Injure: Pictorial Stereotypes in the Media (2003). Sourced from https://books.google.co.uk/books?isbn=027597846X

12. THE RUDERMAN WHITE PAPERON EMPLOYMENT OF ACTORS WITH DISABILIITES IN TELEVISION (2016). Sourced from http://www.rudermanfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/TV-White-Paper_7-1-003.pdf

13. The Undateables branded 'offensive' and exploitative by doctors criticising the Channel 4 reality show (2015). Sourced from http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/undateables-branded-offensive-exploitative-doctors-5940488

14. Richard and ASD. Sourced from http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-undateables/profiles/series-1/richard-series-1/652

15. Narrators quote about Richard (The undateables: series 7, episode 4). Sourced from http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-undateables/episode-guide

16. Obsessions, repetitive behaviour and routines. Sourced from http://www.autism.org.uk/about/behaviour/obsessions-repetitive-routines.aspx

17. The Undateables social media responses (2017). Sourced from http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/760927/The-Undateables-Richard-F-Kent-BEST-show-moment-ever-Channel-4

18. NHS autism spectrum disorder: overview, symptoms, causes. Sourced from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/

19. Informed Consent in Adults with Autism: Ethical and Legal Considerations in the United States (2014). Sourced from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268143694_Informed_Consent_in_Adults_with_Autism_Ethical_and_Legal_Considerations_in_the_United_States

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20. Conditions on the undateables (Williams syndrome and aphasia). Sourced from http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-undateables/episode-guide

Pictures and video references

Figure 1. The undateables cast (2017). Sourced from https://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/tvfilm/the-undateables-channel-4-james-tammy-and-tom-look-for-love-in-series-5-episode-1-a3148386.html

Figure 2. The undateables title page. Sourced from http://www.channel4.com

Figure 3: Would Like To Meet. Richard’s promotional shot for The Undateables. Sourced from http://www.channel4.com

Figure 4: The Undateables trailer (series 1: video). Sourced from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkqQwWX4x-Q

Figure 5: First dates: a reality dating show produced by Channel 4 which features people eating out at the ‘first date’s restaurant’. Sourced from http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/712829/Channel-Four-First-Dates-ma-tre-d-Fred-Sirieix-book-release-The-Art-Of-Love

Figure 6: An internet meme that has been created based on the show The Undateables. Sourced from https://memecrunch.com/meme/E312/undateables

Figure 7: ASD triad of impairments. Sourced from https://www.clinical-partners.co.uk/for-adults/autism-and-aspergers/symptoms-of-autism

Figure 8: Signs of Autism (Video: 2013). Sourced from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J4RHmO6LAE

Figure 9: What is the cause of Autism? (Video: 2012). Sourced from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoCD0asRXvc

Additional pictures and visual aids

A. Red cupid. Sourced from http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-literati/2014/02/pixiehammer-press-letter-writing-service-adds-a-unique-touch-to-valentines-day/

B. Pie chart based off data from British Social Attitudes Survey (2009). Sourced from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/325989/ppdp.pdf

C. Play sign for videos. Retrieved from http://archive.motoringtv.com/