Disability Studies

During the late 19th and early 20th century, freak shows and side shows were put on for people to come and stare at others with disabilities. "Freaks were spectacular public displays of novelty that entertained viewers who gladly paid to stare," states Rosemarie Garland Thompson author of "Staring at the Other." These side shows and freak shows were a way for society to view people with disabilities without feeling the social anxiety of staring. Garland demonstrates this idea by stating, "The freak show validated curiosity and authorized public staring at bodies that departed from the ordinary by embellishing differences to make money." Modern day technology has made available to us the display of people with disabilities through TV shows such as Mermaid Girl, Little People Big World, and even fictional movies such as The Ringer. However, do these public displays of disabled people show us insight to their lives, or are they just a form of a modern day freak show allowing the rest of society to stare?