The Uses and Implications of the Term “Retarded” on YouTube
Main Article Content
Keywords
retarded, disability terminology, YouTube
Abstract
In this article, we provide a historical glimpse into the changing use of terminology for people with intellectual disabilities. In order to determine how the word retarded is currently used in popular culture in the United States, we analyzed one hundred randomly selected YouTube videos with the word retarded in the title. Five themes emerged: (a) the traditional use of the term retarded, (b) the use of retarded in humorous context, (c) the use of retarded to insult or criticize, (d) the term retarded as a substitute for other words, and (e) the slang use of retarded in a hip hop context. The coexistence of these multiple definitions is an unprecedented situation in the history of disability terminology. While advocates in the US are pushing for abandonment of the “R” word, establishing rules about language use is clearly a simplistic solution to a complex problem.
References
About Being Considered “Retarded” [Video post]. (2006, October 31). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn70gPukdtY
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed.). (2006). Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/retard
The Arc (2004). Introduction to mental retardation. Retrieved from http://www.thearc.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?&id=143
The Arc. (2008). About us. Retrieved from http://www.thearc.org
Beirne-Smith, M., Ittenbach, R., & Patton, J. R. (2002). Mental retardation (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall.
BEP Let’s Get Retarded [Video post]. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olAYRgzjP8k
Berkson, G. (2006). Mental disabilities in western civilization from ancient Rome to the Prerogativa Regis. Mental Retardation: A Journal of Practices, Policy and Perspectives, 44(1), 28-40.
Bucholtz, M. (2000). Language and youth culture. Retrieved from http://americanspeech.dukejournals.org
CNN.com International (2006). Irate HK man unlikely web hero. Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/06/07/hk.uncle/
Cute and Retarded Animals [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnjXqn4cRFE
Driving Medical Research via YouTube. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq. (1975)
Elks, M. A. (2004). Believing is seeing: Visual conventions in Barr’s classification of the “feeble-minded.” Mental Retardation: A Journal of Practices, Policy and Perspectives, 42(5), 371-382.
Evolution of Dance [Video post]. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg
Felty, R. & Felty, W. (2007). The “r” word campaign. Retrieved from http://therword.org/
Gladwell, M. (2007). None of the above. Retrieved from http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2007/12/17/071217crbo_books_gladwell
Goode, D. (2002). Mental retardation is dead: Long live mental retardation! Mental Retardation, 40(1), 57- 59.
Greenspan, S. (2006). Functional concepts in mental retardation: Finding the natural essence of an artificial category. Exceptionality, 14(4), 205-224.
Grossman, H. J. (Ed.). (1973). Manual on terminology in mental retardation (Rev.). Washington, DC: American Association on Mental Deficiency.
Grossman, H. J. (Ed.). (1977). Manual on terminology in mental retardation (Rev.). Washington, DC: American Association on Mental Deficiency.
Hallahan, D. P., & Kauffman, J. M. (2006). Exceptional learners: An introduction to special
education (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Heber, R. A. (1961). A manual on terminology and classification in mental retardation (2nd
ed.). Monograph Supplement to the American Journal of Mental Deficiency.
Hoad, S. (2006). Not retarded: One part of the community expresses language hurts. Retrieved from http://www.abilitymaine.org/oped/notret.html
How Retarded Can You Get to The 90s? [Video post]. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiw4qApEg0o
J Retarded Version [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfd0gOOveAg
Johnson, B. (2004). ’Tard and feathered: How did “Let's Get Retarded” turn into “Let's Get It Started”? The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110005723
Kutz, E. (2008, March 26). IRS uses YouTube to clue viewers in on tax rebates. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com
Lebron James - Let’s Get Retarded [Video post]. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe8AkHJVoYw
Los Kippos - Let's Get Retarded (Fatal Bazooka Remix) [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udAQDccb89k
Minnesota Department of Education. (2004). Promising practices in the identification of individuals with developmental disabilities. Retrieved from http://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/groups/SpecialEd/documents/Manual/001499.pdf
Moore, R. L. (2004). We’re cool, mom and dad are swell: Basic slang and generational shifts in values. American Speech, 79(1), 59-86.
The Most Retarded Fergie Video You Will Ever See [Video post]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JRGjzMNfnc
Müller, E., Markowitz, J., & Srivastava S. (2005). Disability categories: Relation of state terms & eligibility criteria to the proportion of children receiving special education services. Retrieved http://www.projectforum.org/docs/ DisabilityCategories _two.pdf
Noll, S., & Trent, J. W., Jr. (2004). Mental retardation in America: A historical reader. NY: New York University Press.
Oprah after the Show with Mr. Evolution of Dance. (2007). Retrieved from http://youtube.com/watch?v=WqDbn2iLwwY
Palfrey, J., & Gasser, U. (2008). Born digital. NY: Basic Books.
Patton, J. R., Beirne-Smith, M., & Payne, J. S. (1990). Mental retardation (3rd ed.). Columbus, OH: Merrill Publishing Company.
Peabody Awards (2008). Complete list of 2008 Peabody Award winners. Retrieved from http://www.peabody.uga.edu/news/event.php?id=59
Perry (2007). YouTube. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYnnT7QMDe8
Pork and Beans [Video post]. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muP9eH2p2PI
Prabhala, A. (2007). Mental retardation is no more-New name is intellectual and developmental disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.aamr.org/
Retarded Comedy Time [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK817DzQ7GM
Retarded Kids Show [Video post]. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8V4HRciwls
Retarded Moshpit [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WfrDvx_2QA
Retarded Policeman Response [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYnnT7QMDe8
Retarded White Kid Dancing [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFJox7GJhBI
Retarded YouTube Users [Video post]. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ajwBZA8ebY
Reynolds, D. (2006). The organization formerly known as AAMR. Retrieved from http://www.mnddc.org/news/inclusion-daily/2006/07/071306usaamradv.htm
Sandoval, G. (2006). YouTube offers mobile upload service. Retrieved from http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6070527.html
Sarno, D. (2008, March 2). On YouTube, more and more of everything. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com
Smith, J. D., & Smallwood, G. (2007). From whence came mental retardation? Asking why while saying goodbye. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 45(2), 132-135.
Smith, P. (2007). Have we made any progress? Including students with intellectual disabilities in regular education classrooms. Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities, 45(5), 297-309.
Smith, S. (2007, January). YouTube celebrity caught in the web. Computer Power User. Retrieved from http://www.computerpoweruser.com
Snider, M. (2008, May 29). YouTube stars dine out on ‘Pork & Beans’. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com
Steve Meade - Retarded Knock [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVKCA1vylf0
Taylor, S. (1996). Disability studies and mental retardation. Disability Studies Quarterly, 14(2), 4-13.
Triano, S. (2003). Self definition. Retrieved from http://www.disabledandproud.com/selfdefinition.htm
Tucker Carlson Calls Canadians Retarded. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02_nC9B0vvU
Urban Dictionary. (2003a). Retrieved from http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=get+retarded
Urban Dictionary. (2003b). Retrieved from http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=retarded
Verstraete, P. (2005, March). The taming of disability: Phrenology and bio-power on the road to the destruction of otherness in France (1800-60). History of Education, 34(2), 119-134.
Walsh, K. K. (2002). Thoughts on changing the term mental retardation. Mental Retardation, 40(1), 70-75.
Warhol, A. (1979). Andy Warhol’s exposures. NY: Grosset and Dunlap.
Yahoo! Answers (July, 2009). What’s something retarded/fun to do? Retrieved from http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090630194638AAa5iB7
Young, J. R. (2008, January 25). YouTube professors: Scholars as online video stars. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com
YouTube (2008). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/t/faq
YouTube (2010a). All categories. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/videos?feature=mh
YouTube (2010b). Broadcasting ourselves: The official YouTube blog. Retrieved from http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/
YouTube (2010c). YouTube fact sheet: Overview and features. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/t/fact_sheet
Zonday, T. (2008). Tay Zonday’s official website. Retrieved from http://www.tayzonday.com
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed.). (2006). Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/retard
The Arc (2004). Introduction to mental retardation. Retrieved from http://www.thearc.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?&id=143
The Arc. (2008). About us. Retrieved from http://www.thearc.org
Beirne-Smith, M., Ittenbach, R., & Patton, J. R. (2002). Mental retardation (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall.
BEP Let’s Get Retarded [Video post]. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olAYRgzjP8k
Berkson, G. (2006). Mental disabilities in western civilization from ancient Rome to the Prerogativa Regis. Mental Retardation: A Journal of Practices, Policy and Perspectives, 44(1), 28-40.
Bucholtz, M. (2000). Language and youth culture. Retrieved from http://americanspeech.dukejournals.org
CNN.com International (2006). Irate HK man unlikely web hero. Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/06/07/hk.uncle/
Cute and Retarded Animals [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnjXqn4cRFE
Driving Medical Research via YouTube. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq. (1975)
Elks, M. A. (2004). Believing is seeing: Visual conventions in Barr’s classification of the “feeble-minded.” Mental Retardation: A Journal of Practices, Policy and Perspectives, 42(5), 371-382.
Evolution of Dance [Video post]. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg
Felty, R. & Felty, W. (2007). The “r” word campaign. Retrieved from http://therword.org/
Gladwell, M. (2007). None of the above. Retrieved from http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2007/12/17/071217crbo_books_gladwell
Goode, D. (2002). Mental retardation is dead: Long live mental retardation! Mental Retardation, 40(1), 57- 59.
Greenspan, S. (2006). Functional concepts in mental retardation: Finding the natural essence of an artificial category. Exceptionality, 14(4), 205-224.
Grossman, H. J. (Ed.). (1973). Manual on terminology in mental retardation (Rev.). Washington, DC: American Association on Mental Deficiency.
Grossman, H. J. (Ed.). (1977). Manual on terminology in mental retardation (Rev.). Washington, DC: American Association on Mental Deficiency.
Hallahan, D. P., & Kauffman, J. M. (2006). Exceptional learners: An introduction to special
education (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Heber, R. A. (1961). A manual on terminology and classification in mental retardation (2nd
ed.). Monograph Supplement to the American Journal of Mental Deficiency.
Hoad, S. (2006). Not retarded: One part of the community expresses language hurts. Retrieved from http://www.abilitymaine.org/oped/notret.html
How Retarded Can You Get to The 90s? [Video post]. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiw4qApEg0o
J Retarded Version [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfd0gOOveAg
Johnson, B. (2004). ’Tard and feathered: How did “Let's Get Retarded” turn into “Let's Get It Started”? The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110005723
Kutz, E. (2008, March 26). IRS uses YouTube to clue viewers in on tax rebates. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com
Lebron James - Let’s Get Retarded [Video post]. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe8AkHJVoYw
Los Kippos - Let's Get Retarded (Fatal Bazooka Remix) [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udAQDccb89k
Minnesota Department of Education. (2004). Promising practices in the identification of individuals with developmental disabilities. Retrieved from http://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/groups/SpecialEd/documents/Manual/001499.pdf
Moore, R. L. (2004). We’re cool, mom and dad are swell: Basic slang and generational shifts in values. American Speech, 79(1), 59-86.
The Most Retarded Fergie Video You Will Ever See [Video post]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JRGjzMNfnc
Müller, E., Markowitz, J., & Srivastava S. (2005). Disability categories: Relation of state terms & eligibility criteria to the proportion of children receiving special education services. Retrieved http://www.projectforum.org/docs/ DisabilityCategories _two.pdf
Noll, S., & Trent, J. W., Jr. (2004). Mental retardation in America: A historical reader. NY: New York University Press.
Oprah after the Show with Mr. Evolution of Dance. (2007). Retrieved from http://youtube.com/watch?v=WqDbn2iLwwY
Palfrey, J., & Gasser, U. (2008). Born digital. NY: Basic Books.
Patton, J. R., Beirne-Smith, M., & Payne, J. S. (1990). Mental retardation (3rd ed.). Columbus, OH: Merrill Publishing Company.
Peabody Awards (2008). Complete list of 2008 Peabody Award winners. Retrieved from http://www.peabody.uga.edu/news/event.php?id=59
Perry (2007). YouTube. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYnnT7QMDe8
Pork and Beans [Video post]. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muP9eH2p2PI
Prabhala, A. (2007). Mental retardation is no more-New name is intellectual and developmental disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.aamr.org/
Retarded Comedy Time [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK817DzQ7GM
Retarded Kids Show [Video post]. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8V4HRciwls
Retarded Moshpit [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WfrDvx_2QA
Retarded Policeman Response [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYnnT7QMDe8
Retarded White Kid Dancing [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFJox7GJhBI
Retarded YouTube Users [Video post]. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ajwBZA8ebY
Reynolds, D. (2006). The organization formerly known as AAMR. Retrieved from http://www.mnddc.org/news/inclusion-daily/2006/07/071306usaamradv.htm
Sandoval, G. (2006). YouTube offers mobile upload service. Retrieved from http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6070527.html
Sarno, D. (2008, March 2). On YouTube, more and more of everything. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com
Smith, J. D., & Smallwood, G. (2007). From whence came mental retardation? Asking why while saying goodbye. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 45(2), 132-135.
Smith, P. (2007). Have we made any progress? Including students with intellectual disabilities in regular education classrooms. Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities, 45(5), 297-309.
Smith, S. (2007, January). YouTube celebrity caught in the web. Computer Power User. Retrieved from http://www.computerpoweruser.com
Snider, M. (2008, May 29). YouTube stars dine out on ‘Pork & Beans’. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com
Steve Meade - Retarded Knock [Video post]. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVKCA1vylf0
Taylor, S. (1996). Disability studies and mental retardation. Disability Studies Quarterly, 14(2), 4-13.
Triano, S. (2003). Self definition. Retrieved from http://www.disabledandproud.com/selfdefinition.htm
Tucker Carlson Calls Canadians Retarded. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02_nC9B0vvU
Urban Dictionary. (2003a). Retrieved from http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=get+retarded
Urban Dictionary. (2003b). Retrieved from http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=retarded
Verstraete, P. (2005, March). The taming of disability: Phrenology and bio-power on the road to the destruction of otherness in France (1800-60). History of Education, 34(2), 119-134.
Walsh, K. K. (2002). Thoughts on changing the term mental retardation. Mental Retardation, 40(1), 70-75.
Warhol, A. (1979). Andy Warhol’s exposures. NY: Grosset and Dunlap.
Yahoo! Answers (July, 2009). What’s something retarded/fun to do? Retrieved from http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090630194638AAa5iB7
Young, J. R. (2008, January 25). YouTube professors: Scholars as online video stars. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com
YouTube (2008). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/t/faq
YouTube (2010a). All categories. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/videos?feature=mh
YouTube (2010b). Broadcasting ourselves: The official YouTube blog. Retrieved from http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/
YouTube (2010c). YouTube fact sheet: Overview and features. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/t/fact_sheet
Zonday, T. (2008). Tay Zonday’s official website. Retrieved from http://www.tayzonday.com
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Published
Nov 3, 2014
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Author Biographies
Brandy Johanson-Sebera, St. Cloud State University
Brandy Johanson-Sebera, M.S., obtained her master’s degree in special education from St. Cloud State University. She is interested in the social impact of disability-related language and is committed to education on the influence of language on attitudes.
Julia Wilkins, St. Cloud State University
Julia Wilkins, Ph.D., was an assistant professor in the special education department at St. Cloud State University. She is interested in the ways that cultural understandings are created and transmitted through new communication technologies.