{"id":40806,"date":"2023-11-29T17:00:15","date_gmt":"2023-11-29T16:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1935318"},"modified":"2023-11-29T18:25:03","modified_gmt":"2023-11-29T17:25:03","slug":"doctor-whos-disability-representation-proves-why-small-moments-matter","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/doctor-whos-disability-representation-proves-why-small-moments-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor Who\u2019s disability representation proves why small moments matter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ruth Madeley made her on-screen Doctor Who debut as Shirley Anne Bingham. <\/p>

By Melissa Parker\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 29 November 2023 at 16:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Doctor Who fans worldwide are being charmed by the highly anticipated 60th anniversary specials<\/a>. However, one character has sparked excitement and intrigue among disabled viewers: Shirley Anne Bingham<\/a>, played by Ruth Madeley<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

This more nuanced portrayal of a wheelchair user in Doctor Who<\/a> is an extraordinary step forward for representation in the beloved series \u2014 but amid the fantastical, fairytale things, there can still be hard realities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ruth Madeley\u2019s work has never been about perfection, but complex, hard-fought realities, and the same can be said of Russell T Davies<\/a>. Both can get to the personal, up-close, staring-you-right-in-the-face experience through their writing and performances. They possess a unique ability to bring audiences close, allowing them to leave a lasting impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

In these seconds on screen, we see the full power of disability representation. Often, the small, up-close moments have the most unforeseen consequences. <\/span>Upon close inspection, a subtle, perhaps unconsciously done detail becomes apparent in a scene: Ruth Madeley\u2019s character crosses her legs.<\/span><\/p>\n

This seemingly insignificant moment holds profound meaning for disabled people as it was picked apart across social media by non-disabled people. We understand all too well the scrutiny and misunderstanding we often face regarding our own bodies.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ruth\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Ruth Madeley and David Tennant on the set of Doctor Who.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC Studios\/Alistair Heap<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

As a wheelchair user, I have endured so much: uncomfortable gazes from men on buses, questions about why my leg is \u201cbent\u201d or \u201cwarped,\u201d and unsolicited comments about my muscular legs not appearing \u201cdisabled enough\u201d not to work. <\/span>One of the earliest questions I ever asked a stranger was, \u201cWhy are you looking at my legs like that?\u201d, instinctively adjusting protectively.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

So, the abundance of social media reactions about a wheelchair user in Doctor Who crossing her legs on screen, frequently mistakenly assumed to be a continuity error, was unsurprising. <\/span>Non-disabled people know nothing of what it\u2019s like to live in and around our wheelchairs through various stages and moments in life and health.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is still our burden, having to be explicit and clear on social media and everyday interactions. Knowing that this is a conversation that we very much need to be in control of \u2014 we need to be able to have these moments and question non-disabled ignorance \u2014 and get through it.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That is the core of good disability representation, even if it\u2019s unconsciously done: the chance to acknowledge that ordinary disabled people still have these hard conversations and live in these moments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Amid these fantastical fairytale things, there can still be small moments, small details that speak to an everyday truth \u2014 eliciting knowing nods from a disabled audience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As Shirley asserts: \u201cDon\u2019t make me the problem, just get in there\u201d when faced with a staircase that UNIT officers need to climb. This line serves as a knowing nod to the social model of disability, reminding viewers that people are disabled by barriers in society, not their impairments or differences.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But imagine disabled children getting to be Shirley.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>