Empowering Children to Deconstruct and Criticize Disability Stereotypes Through the Appreciation and Production of Cartoons

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 39
  In Roundtable Session: Moving Beyond Traditional Research Methodologies in Early Childhood

Abstract

Humor is associated with positive effects on children’s lives especially complex life issues. This study investigated how children appreciate and produce cartoons which concentrate on fighting disability stereotypes (e.g. rights and access). A group of 5 children (6-8 years) attended a program which lasted 7 weeks, 90 minutes each week. Data collection included discussions audiotaping, participant observations and artifacts. Findings, suggest when appreciating a disability cartoon children go from describing, to noting and then providing a resolution to the disability issue. The humorous elements they employed in producing text to disability cartoons included: hyperbole, irony and sarcasm. These findings fall under the Theory of the Absurd and the Empowerment Theory and recommend the use of humor for criticizing disability stereotypes.

Authors

• Eleni Loizou, University of Cyprus

• Simoni Symeonidou, University of Cyprus