My Hero Academia And It's Themes Involving Disability, And How That Plays A Major Role In The Story

my hero academia and it's themes involving disability, and how that plays a major role in the story

a part two to my previous post, essentially. (I'd 100% recommend checking that one out as it covers any other topics regarding mha and disabilities that I don't over here)

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the tragedy of war torn veterans and it's correlation to my hero academia

I think the conversation revolving izuku midoriya, and how he's been treated since the war ended is very, very interesting. The general cons

my hero academia has always been a story that revolves around the mistreatment of those born different/differently-abled, and I think the fact that that is constantly overlooked ruins the entire theme of the story.

This theme is set right from the get-go, chapter 1 izuku is shown to constantly face harassment, bullying, mistreatment, and downright abuse by the hands of not only his peers but teachers as well, with his middle school home room teacher pointing out how midoriya wanted to apply to U.A. KNOWING he would be ridiculed.

Now here comes the question of why, why is izuku treated so awfully for something that seems so genuinely inconsequential, I mean most people in the mha universe don't even become pros, and out of the few who do become heroes so little actually become well known and revered, so why would it matter if he has a quirk or not? Well, it all has to do with the nature of quirks themselves. See, quirks arent just powers that you can tap into when you need them, something you turn on and off. I'd think of it as more of an extension of yourself - we see this when inko (izukus mother) used her quirk to float this around the house to move them towards her, or bakugo using his explosions to light a fire and help him cook. Tsu using her tongue to grab things. Ojiros tail helping him stand when he's tired, leaning on it, todoroki using his quirk to cool himself and others down when overheating, or warm up when too cold. These are all examples of quirks being used as extensions of the body, not easily removed from ones identity or characteristics. I feel as though having a quirk genuinely changes the way you think, as in you wouldnt know how to function without one.

So quirks arent just for heroes, theyre something that is so genuinely seen as needed for every day function. To survive as a normal person in society, to socialize and fit In. The abnormal is the normal, and anything other then superhuman is subpar.

Not having a quirk means that you supposedly can't function on the same level as those who have quirks. That you are not as able-bodied as those around you.

You are disabled.

Izuku midoriya was disabled (at least to their standards ) and it was something that everyone around him constantly ostracized him for. (I reference disability in the sense of it being physical, but I think this could also be applied to having mental disabilities as well, different nuero types ECT)

But then something happens.

Izuku somehow gets a quirk, he somehow gets a quirk, and everyone around him sees him as this new person.

Because he's no longer suffocatingly uncomfortable to be around. He's no longer the weak disabled kid that cant be left alone because what if a villain attacks?? How will he possibly defend himself? How will be ever be successful in life without a quirk to get him by?

Something that I saw a lot was when someone who didnt have a quirk got brought up, people would get really uncomfortable. They would apologize. Because not having a quirk is awful, and it's so unfortunate. Midoriya even does it to Melissa when she admits that she in fact does not have a quirk.

Now, fast forward to after the war, izuku midoriya loses his quirk.

He is officially back at square one.

And everyone is back to treating him as awfully and neglectfully as they did before- only this time, instead of being just disabled, he's a veteran as well, which I think has people treating him even worse then they did before. (If you want more about this, check out my previous post, as it goes hand it hand with this one. )

My hero academia is a story about disability, how different abilities hinder people, or lack therefore. It is a story about being as gifted as you arent. It is a story about gaining things only to lose them and learning how to live without them again. It is a story about disabilities, and how different people learn to live and cope with that. From neurological to physical. And, personally, I think it has done a wonderful job in explaining that.