The identity of “others”: media reproduction of youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities in mainland China

The mass media has become the main source of public understanding of persons with intellectual disabilities in China. This research explores what images are constructed for persons with intellectual disabilities through media reproduction. The data came from TVMVDB. This paper uses inductive content analysis to analyze the content of reports on youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities in television information. Their images in television news is mainly composed of four types: deviant identity, burdensome identity, dehumanized identity, and motivational identity. Negative images of youth and young adults with intellectual disabilities dominate television news. It is crucial to standardize reporting language and promote positive imagery to reduce the stigmatization of individuals with intellectual disabilities in China. Various factors, including traditional Chinese culture, developmentalist discourse, and the concept of disability perception influence the image of persons with intellectual disabilities conveyed by the media.