Disability in Dystopian Literature

Disability in the Post-Apocalypse

• Disability is often erased in post-apocalyptic narratives, prioritizing strength, speed, and self-sufficiency for survival.
• Characters with disabilities are frequently killed off, "cured," or left behind.
• Many post-apocalyptic stories assume disabled people won't survive.
• In "The Walking Dead," Andrea's sister Amy being bitten leads to the immediate assumption she must die, highlighting the lack of space for disabled, sick, or "weakened" bodies in a survivalist mindset.

The Erasure of Disability

• Disability is treated as a liability in many post-apocalyptic stories.
• Disabled characters are often written off but if they survive they are frequently given "superhuman" ability to compensate.
• Lower-class passengers, many of whom are elderly or disabled are largely unseen and eventually abandoned while the film implies that only the strong can move forward in "Snowpiercer"
• Furiosa's missing arm is barely acknowledged as a disability, as she is exceedingly competent without any struggle in "Mad Max: Fury Road".

The Cure Narrative in Post-Apocalyptic Stories

• Many narratives imply that disability must be "fixed" for survival.
• Characters who have blindness, deafness, or physical impairments either adapt past recognition or die.
• In "I Am Legend," the virus that destroyed humanity gets used to "cure" the infected, implying that those who have changed must be restored
• People infected with a virus are either eliminated or seen as beyond saving, reinforcing the idea that sickness must be eradicated in "The Rain" (Netflix).

When Disability Becomes Power

• Some narratives flip the script and make disability a survival advantage.
• The cases where disability becomes advantageous are rare but important.
• Bub, a zombie, retains intelligence and problem-solving skills, thus complicating ideas of “normal” human survival in "Day of the Dead" (1985).
• The father's failing health changes how survival is framed, making how survival is not just about physical strength, but knowledge and resourcefulness in "The Road".
• Disability can be a part of survival, not just an obstacle to it.

Group Activity: Rethinking Survival

• As a group of 5-6, each group is assigned one survival scenario
• The scenarios are a character who is blind; a character who cannot walk, a character who has a chronic illness, and a character who is neurodivergent
• The group will answer how traditional post-apocalyptic stories handle this character and how could the character's condition be an advantage rather than a disadvantage?

Disability and the Politics of Survival

• Post-apocalyptic narratives reflect real-world politics of survival and societal exclusion.
• The apocalypse is often a means to reassert dominant societal norms, privileging able-bodied survival.
• A society that prioritizes disabled perspectives approach survival differently in a post-apocalypse.
• Instead of relying on brute strength or speed, other skills might become valuable.
• Real-world examples challenge post-apocalyptic stereotypes.
• Disabled activists, athletes, or leaders reshape the meaning of survival in everyday life.

Disability and Apocalypse as a Metaphor

• Post-apocalyptic narratives often symbolize broader social fears.
• Disability in these films is sometimes a metaphor rather than a lived experience.
• Infected represent a fear of biological contamination and loss of bodily control, such as in "28 Days Later."
• Infertility implies societal decay and the fear of a “dying” future in "Children of Men."

Disability and Community in Post-Apocalyptic Worlds

• Filmmakers frequently focus on lone survivors rather than communities in post-apocalyptic stories, but many disabled individuals thrive in communities rather than in isolation.
• In "Day of the Dead" (1985), a small group of survivors must rely on each other, including a scientist struggling with physical limitations.

The Real-World Implications of Disability Erasure

• Post-apocalyptic films shape how we think about survival and “worthiness.”
• Emergency preparedness often excludes disabled individuals.
• Disabled people are more likely to be left behind during disasters because of a lack of accessibility planning.
• COVID-19 responses often deprioritized disabled and chronically ill individuals for medical resources.

Preparing for The Girl with All the Gifts

• Consider how the film portrays disability, whether physical, cognitive, or social.
• Consider if the film reinforces or challenge the typical post-apocalyptic survival tropes.
• Pay attention to Melanie's role which can be a protagonist, an outsider, or a threat.
• Take note of the relationship between the military, scientists, and children and who gets to decide what survival means.
• Consider whether the ending offers a hopeful future, or if it reinforces familiar ideas about survival.

Wrap-Up

• Disability is often erased or “cured” in post-apocalyptic films, thus reinforcing ableist survival myths.
• Survival is often framed as individualistic, sidelining community and interdependence,
• Post-apocalyptic narratives reflect real-world biases, shaping public perceptions of disability and disaster preparedness.
• Some films showcase alternative perspectives and challenge tropes, showing disability as a form of adaptation rather than weakness.