Inspiration porn is a term used to describe society’s tendency to reduce people with disabilities to objects of inspiration. You’ve all seen the memes, “the only disability in life is a bad attitude.” Or a picture of a small child running on prosthetic legs accompanied by the caption “what’s your excuse?”  Inspiration porn turns people with disabilities into mere objects, placing their physical differences on display and reassuring the viewer that “If these people can live with just one leg,” for example, “I can do so much more without a disability.”

The term was coined in 2012 by disability rights activist Stella Young in an editorial in Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s webzine Ramp Up. In the article, which she called “We’re Not Here for Your Inspiration,” Young writes: “Let me be clear about the intent of this inspiration porn; It’s there so that non-disabled people can put their worries into perspective…It’s there so that non-disabled people can look at us and think ‘well, it could be worse… I could be that person.’” When we reduce people to objects of inspiration, it not only assumes that disability automatically equals hardship, a tragedy that must be overcome, but it also incorrectly assumes that disability can actually be overcome with a smile and a little bit of determination.

So next time you’re tempted to share that picture of an adorable kid with a disability to make your Facebook friends feel good, just take a second to consider why you’re really clicking that button.

Stella Young’s article in the Ramp Up can be found at:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-03/young-inspiration-porn/4107006

(Image description: a male amputee has a prosthetic and is running on a running track. He is wearing a black and white nylon running clothes. In the background you can see green grass and the seats in the track arena.)