Leslie Fischman
Critical Thinking
Journal: “Murder Ball”
November 7, 2006
Challenging Public Perceptions of Wheelchair Users
“Murder Ball” challenges popular perceptions of the disabled and draws attention to the lack of awareness and understanding we have of what they are actually capable of. By over focusing on ones disabilities we tend to overlook their potential abilities. Rather than perceiving their impairment as a negative life changing event, these individuals turned it into a positive by finding other avenues to receive praise and acclimation of their abilities. Wheelchair rugby was one way in which they could join forces with similarly disabled individuals and engage in a physically competitive sport to the fullest of their ability and show their courage to defy the odds against them.
Its surprising to see individuals who are not physically weakened by their disability but instead exhibit strength, passion, and sheer power on the court. Its hard not to ignore the stereotypes that have been ingrained into our minds and the typical images we see of wheelchair users that make us feel sorry for them or pity them. This film directed our attention to those common misperceptions by showing us that neither the wheelchair user nor the able bodied individual should feel sorry for people with handicaps.
It was interesting to see how much murder ball meant to these men and how playing the sport helped them cope with their disabilities. The sport allowed them to prove their masculinity and that the wheelchair did not diminish their sense of self worth and pride in themselves. One of their biggest insecurities I sensed was that being in a wheelchair would in some ways lead others to question their ability to function socially and sexually. However despite popular assumptions that paraplegics can’t function normally both socially and sexually, these men interviewed had no problems in those departments.
For these men, wheelchair rugby was vital to their acceptance of their disability. Rugby was an addiction for them, something for them to latch on to as a positive life force to keep them motivated and give them something to live for and be recognized for. They lived for the positive attention recognition they got as an athlete, rather than the negative attention and stigma they felt as just a wheelchair user. Instead they could be recognized as Olympic athletes and champions, something with which they could identify themselves with that gave them a more positive self image.
Hearing their stories and their personal histories of the events that led to them to the murder ball court was very moving and insightful. Their experiences not only affected their way of life, but also changed their perspectives of their experiences. In many ways these individuals, because of their physical impairments developed a different sense of appreciation for the people around them and the meanings they attach to their lives. Taking risks resulted in a lifetime of physical challenges and as a consequence changed their overall outlook of life, learning to not take things for granted like they used to and realizing just how precious life really is.
Critical Thinking
Journal: “Murder Ball”
November 7, 2006
Challenging Public Perceptions of Wheelchair Users
“Murder Ball” challenges popular perceptions of the disabled and draws attention to the lack of awareness and understanding we have of what they are actually capable of. By over focusing on ones disabilities we tend to overlook their potential abilities. Rather than perceiving their impairment as a negative life changing event, these individuals turned it into a positive by finding other avenues to receive praise and acclimation of their abilities. Wheelchair rugby was one way in which they could join forces with similarly disabled individuals and engage in a physically competitive sport to the fullest of their ability and show their courage to defy the odds against them.
Its surprising to see individuals who are not physically weakened by their disability but instead exhibit strength, passion, and sheer power on the court. Its hard not to ignore the stereotypes that have been ingrained into our minds and the typical images we see of wheelchair users that make us feel sorry for them or pity them. This film directed our attention to those common misperceptions by showing us that neither the wheelchair user nor the able bodied individual should feel sorry for people with handicaps.
It was interesting to see how much murder ball meant to these men and how playing the sport helped them cope with their disabilities. The sport allowed them to prove their masculinity and that the wheelchair did not diminish their sense of self worth and pride in themselves. One of their biggest insecurities I sensed was that being in a wheelchair would in some ways lead others to question their ability to function socially and sexually. However despite popular assumptions that paraplegics can’t function normally both socially and sexually, these men interviewed had no problems in those departments.
For these men, wheelchair rugby was vital to their acceptance of their disability. Rugby was an addiction for them, something for them to latch on to as a positive life force to keep them motivated and give them something to live for and be recognized for. They lived for the positive attention recognition they got as an athlete, rather than the negative attention and stigma they felt as just a wheelchair user. Instead they could be recognized as Olympic athletes and champions, something with which they could identify themselves with that gave them a more positive self image.
Hearing their stories and their personal histories of the events that led to them to the murder ball court was very moving and insightful. Their experiences not only affected their way of life, but also changed their perspectives of their experiences. In many ways these individuals, because of their physical impairments developed a different sense of appreciation for the people around them and the meanings they attach to their lives. Taking risks resulted in a lifetime of physical challenges and as a consequence changed their overall outlook of life, learning to not take things for granted like they used to and realizing just how precious life really is.