ERIC Number: EJ970023
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
Reference Count: 21
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2165-1019
Seeing the Same: A Follow-Up Study on the Portrayals of Disability in Graphic Novels Read by Young Adults
Irwin, Marilyn; Moeller, Robin
School Library Research, v15 2012
A 2010 study of the portrayal of disabilities in graphic novels selected by librarians as the "Best" revealed that disabilities were present in less than half of the sample, and the majority of those depictions were of negative stereotypes (Irwin and Moeller 2010). This follow-up study looked at a best seller list of graphic novels to answer the following research questions: Do the graphic novels include individuals with disabilities? If disabilities are present, what disabilities were most often featured? What is the gender of the individual(s) with disabilities? Is there a positive portrayal of the person with a disability? Are there differences between the portrayal of disability in a graphic novel from a best seller list and one approved by librarians? Disabilities were present in an overwhelming majority of the twenty-nine graphic novel titles examined in this study; however, the individuals were again primarily portrayed using negative stereotypes. The conclusions are that authors, illustrators, and publishers of graphic novels, whether the works are recommended by librarians or are best sellers, do not provide realistic representations of people with disabilities.
Descriptors: Stereotypes, Disabilities, Cartoons, Young Adults, Followup Studies, Librarians, Novels, Literary Genres, Attitudes toward Disabilities, Federal Legislation, Educational Legislation, Authors, Publishing Industry, Adolescent Literature
American Association of School Librarians. Available from: American Library Association. 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611. Tel: 800-545-2433; Web site: http://www.ala.org/aasl/slmr
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: N/A

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