This phrase emphasizes that ableism, discrimination against disabled persons, often coexists with other forms of oppression. It reveals how society prioritizes certain capabilities over others, and how those perceived abilities are utilized to justify inequalities in a number of circumstances, including race, gender, age, and class.

For example, in the workplace, there is often a bias that associates physical strength and stamina with productivity. This can have a disproportionate impact on the disabled, but it also ties to sexism when women are perceived to be physically weaker or less talented in specific occupations. Similarly, racial attitudes have historically linked intellectual or physical abilities with certain ethnic groups, justifying exclusion and punishment. For example, cognitive tests have long been used to exclude immigrants of specific ethnicities, reinforcing both ableist and racist paradigms.

I don’t think anything surprised me, the only ones I had gotten wrong was just either a finger slip or my brain got a bit confused. My results were a slight automatic favour for Eastern American over Asian American.

This is important to me since we see it everyday on campus, many university buildings still lack ramps, elevators, or accessible seating. Lab areas, housing, and even libraries may not be wheelchair accessible. Traditional lectures, scheduled examinations, and participation-based marking may penalize students with impairments such as dyslexia, ADHD, or chronic diseases. While many institutions provide disability services, students must frequently lobby for accommodations such as additional time on examinations, note-taking assistance, or flexible deadlines, which may be met with resistance from instructors.

Question 2

I believe that although sports may be used for both participation and competition, depending on the setting and personal goals of their own. I ultimately think sports are an excellent way to be active, have fun, and interact with people while avoiding the strain of competition. Participation in sports boosts physical and mental well-being, whether it’s a casual game of soccer with friends, joining a recreational volleyball league, or for me, simply dancing for the love of movement. It offers the opportunity to acquire new skills, gain confidence, and enjoy teamwork in a supportive setting. Unlike competitive sports, where winning is the primary goal, participation-based sports prioritize enjoyment, inclusiveness, and personal progress, making them accessible to individuals of all skills and experience levels.

Yes, Murderball engages with the supercrip story, but in a complicated manner. It simultaneously feeds into and undermines it. The ways in which Murderball plays into the supercrip narrative are the film focuses on the athletes’ personal struggles, such as accidents and injuries, and presents their transition to wheelchair rugby as a way to recover their lives. As well, this emphasis on “overcoming” disability may connect with the supercrip stereotype, which frequently depicts crippled people as heroic for merely adapting to their circumstances. The film also features scenes that highlight their perseverance and determination, risking reducing their identities to inspirational stories. However, at the same time, Murderball deliberately challenges the supercrip stereotype by depicting the athletes as competitive, aggressive, and even arrogant—characteristics that are rarely associated with normal media depictions of disabled people. Rather than depicting them as passive victims or perfect people, the film presents them as talented athletes who train, compete, and experience the same emotions as able-bodied competitors. This humanizes them beyond the conventional “inspiration porn” of the supercrip genre. In terms of how gender informs supercrip are, aside from well-known figures such as Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder, the first group of disabled persons to receive widespread prominence were often “rugged, muscular, and white” and predominantly cisgender men. These individuals commonly participated in sports like wheelchair basketball or wheelchair tennis, highlighted by their strength and independence, fitting a “very macho” image. This portrayal made nondisabled people feel more at ease around atypical bodies because their actions were more “recognizable and legible” in a nondisabled setting. Examples include Murderball, a documentary about paraplegic rugby players, and Oscar Pistorius, a Paralympic sprinter. This demonstrates that historically, the “supercrip” persona has been heavily influenced by masculine ideals that stress strength, toughness, and physical competence.