Olympics|‘Inspiration Porn’: Paralympians Know It When They See It
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/05/sports/olympics/inspiration-porn-paralympians-know-it-when-they-see-it.html
#masthead-section-label, #masthead-bar-one { display: none }
Advertisement
Continue reading the main story
Supported by
Continue reading the main story
‘Inspiration Porn’: Paralympians Know It When They See It
Athletes reject the idea that they should be admired just for coping with disabilities, and not also for what they’ve accomplished.
Darlene Hunter of the U.S. women’s basketball team during a semifinal game against China. Credit…Chang W. Lee/The New York Times
By Gwen Knapp
Sept. 5, 2021
TOKYO — Darlene Hunter, a three-time Paralympian and a college professor, begins her classes on disability issues exploring what may be the most provocative phrase ever associated with an international sports event: “inspiration porn.”
Hunter knows that when she introduces the term, she can count on her students at the University of Texas at Arlington to perk up, sometimes in shock.
“Luckily, I have an administration that really supports all this,” said Hunter, an assistant professor of practice in social work. The American wheelchair basketball team she is a member of defeated Germany to win the [...]
Read article at nytimes.com (Provides limited free articles.)