Social Representations of the Stigmatizing Hegemony of Disability in Mexico: The Case of Teleton

Abstract

This article explores how media in Mexico perpetuate hegemonic and stigmatizing social representations of disability, with a particular focus on the Teleton. Through a qualitative content analysis covering the period from 2008 (the year Mexico ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) to 2024, it is demonstrated that the Teleton has consistently framed rehabilitation as the key to a dignified life, employing mechanisms of charity and pity. The analysis identifies the discursive and narrative devices that reproduce a reductionist perspective on disability. Given that Teleton is broadcast on the most-watched television network in the country, the article discusses the implications for public perceptions of disability. The reach of this organization effectively reduces the State’s obligations as a guarantor of rights and solutions to social issues related to disability. The conclusions highlight the significant role of media in the production and perpetuation of stigmatizing and dominant representations of disability, suggesting that this same role could be leveraged to transform these representations and promote more dignified and accurate portrayals. Such transformations could facilitate a better understanding of disability and support the full participation of individuals with disabilities in all spheres of social life.