John C. McGinley “Spreads the Word to End the Word” – and leaves Kelly Ann shaking her head.
As the father of a 13-year-old son with Down syndrome, actor John C. McGinley is an outspoken advocate for those living with intellectual disabilities. Active in the community, McGinley serves as ambassador (and past spokesperson) for the National Down Syndrome Society; most recently, the actor joined up with the Special Olympics and Best Buddies in order to “Spread the Word to End the Word” – the r-word, that is.
The R-word is a campaign which seeks to educate the public about the harmful, hateful impact of using “retard” (and its many variants) as an insult/in casual language. The R-word’s proponents – and I am one – believe that it’s time we shelve “retard,” retiring it alongside similar prejudiced terms such as…well, such as a whole slew of words that I’m not even comfortable typing.
As part of his work with the R-word, McGinley appears in a PSA to promote the campaign and its mission. While well-intentioned, his monologue misses the mark – by a long shot.
Here’s the video, along with a transcript for those who cannot view and/or hear it.
Hi, I’m John C. McGinley. I’m an ambassador for the National Down Syndrome Society, and today I’m joining up with the Special Olympics to bring you a message that’s very important to me.
As Dr. Cox on Scrubs, you’ve heard me call J.D. many different names over the years. Patricia, Pam, Helen, Billie, Nicole, Deb, Nancy, Kathleen, Mary, Loretta and Grace. But one name you’ve never heard me use is “retard” or “retarded.” Words are powerful. Hearing the r-word makes people with intellectual disabilities and those who love them feel like less valued members of humanity. That’s why we’re asking you to help spread the word to end the r-word. Join the campaign and make your pledge. It’s time to respect and value people with intellectual disabilities. It’s time to end the r-word.
What’s wrong with this picture?
Before we deconstruct McGinley’s message, a bit of background for those who have never seen Scrubs. The show is a riff on more serious medical/hospital dramas, such as the late ER; while there’s no shortage of teary moments, Scrubs is primarily a comedy – a half hour sitcom, at that. Over the past nine years, we’ve watched John “J.D.” Dorian and his friends – Christopher Turk and Elliot Reid – work their way up the ranks of Sacred Heart Hospital, from lowly interns to respectable MDs. Along the way, the gruff (and sometimes offensive)-but-lovable Dr. Cox reluctantly serves as J.D.’s mentor/father figure.
Compared to Dr. Cox’s manly man, J.D. is in many ways feminine. When first starting out, he shows not a little fear, anxiety and worry. He is sensitive, emotional, introspective, and eager to divulge his feelings to others. He and his college friend “Turk” share a close bond that, at times, is suggestive of a romantic relationship (a “bromance,” if you will). J.D. is goofy, silly, and not above making a fool of himself to get a laugh. When out clubbin’, he prefers fruity drinks like Appletinis to beer and hard liquor. Probably there was at least one plot line wherein an incidental character misread (heterosexual) J.D.’s sexual orientation (but don’t quote me on that).
A brilliant character actor, McGinley plays Cox as a delightfully cross, irritable man who spends much of his time mocking his colleagues – particularly the interns. Most of the jabs he takes at J.D. involve the latter’s perceived femininity. Hence the “names” McGinley recites as part of the above PSA: Patricia. Pam. Helen. Billie. Nicole. Deb. Nancy. Kathleen. Mary. Loretta. Grace. All are girls’ and women’s names. In the context of the show, these proper names, neutral in value, are transformed into gender-based slurs used to call J.D.’s masculinity (and thus self-worth) into question. Every time Cox refers to J.D. as “Jane” instead of “John,” he may as well be calling J.D. a “girl” or a “woman” – or a “bitch,” a “cunt,” or a “twat.” (Or a “fag,” a “queer,” or a “homo,” if you’re of the view that homophobia is a correlate of misogyny.)
After reciting the “many different names” he’s called J.D., McGinley/Cox goes on to say that “words are powerful”; and here, he and I are in 100% agreement. But just as the r-word makes those living with intellectual disabilities “feel like less valued members of humanity,” so too do gender-based insults make girls and women “feel like less valued members of humanity.” My mind is still reeling at how easily McGinley and the producers of this PSA comprehend the former while so obtusely stumbling over the latter.
McGinley’s second wife (who is not his son Max’s biological mother) gave birth to a daughter, Billie Grace, in February 2008. I hope for her sake – and his wife’s – that he comes around right quick. Particularly since “Billie” and “Grace” are two of the many “names” McGinley has given us the green light to toss around as slurs.
Updated to add: Tip o’ the hat to my husband for sending me the video in disbelief.
Stephanie Ernst
Marji
Kelly G.
Deb
Mary Martin
Oh wow, and my name’s Billie… That’s a little odd anyway, because when spoken, I usually assume it’s talking about a guy named Billy. Anyway, yeah, I always had a problem with him calling him girl’s names. He won’t say “retarded” because that’s demeaning, but he will call him girl’s names, because… women are below them? Or gay people, if he’s referring to the stereotypical idea of an effeminate man? I find that pretty hypocritical. I’ve always had that problem with Scrubs, though. It’s very forward with societal expectations and all, satirizing stereotypes, yet the comedy and plot rely on these stereotypes a lot of the time. Not cool.
I’ve always had that problem with Scrubs, though. It’s very forward with societal expectations and all, satirizing stereotypes, yet the comedy and plot rely on these stereotypes a lot of the time. Not cool.
I think the girls’ names become a little more complex once you put them in the context of the show. It really depends on how you read Dr. Cox; is the audience supposed to laugh w/Cox at J.D. and his “effeminate” demeanor, or is the intolerant Dr. Cox (and his distancing insults) the real butt of the joke? (Just to use one example of many.)
Since I count myself among the show’s fans (and as someone who finds J.D.’s “girly” quirks charming), I tend to think the joke’s on Dr. Cox (kind of akin to The Office‘s Michael Scott). That said, I haven’t seen Scrubs in years, and it’s certainly possible that I’d feel differently watching it today, with a more critical eye. (This happens more often than not, I’m afraid!)
Did they not test that with . . . anyone?
It’s a great campaign idea, but its current incarnation needs to be scrapped *and* an apology needs to be issued.
I’ll be writing a letter.
Excellent post, Kelly. Mind-boggling PSA.
I actually had one of my “stop saying it, people!” moments online yesterday afternoon, and obviously, I’m usually supportive of PSAs and campaigns that help get this message out there. But this one, challenging one problem while perpetuating another? Not cutting it. Thanks for drawing our attention to it and for your thoughtful commentary.
There’s no way that no one on Scrubs has ever used “retarded” as a slur.
A Google search of the Scrubs Wiki, which includes transcripts of all the episodes, does not turn up a single result for the word “retard.” (Search link.) In contrast, I did find an entire page devoted solely to “J.D.’s girl names.”
Given that McGinley’s son was born in 1997 and the show was created four years later – and considering McGinley’s star power – I don’t think it unlikely that he held some sway over the scripts from the very beginning. Probably his anti-ableism activism had already blossomed by the time the show started, and he would have been quite vocal had the writers included any ableist insults in the scripts. In fact, his Wiki entry notes that “he wears a wristband for a Down Syndrome charity” while filming Scrubs.
Hm, misogyny never goes out of style. McGinley is most likely from the generation accustomed to remarks like, “Don’t be such a Nancy.” He’s probably conditioned to it as an “innocent norm.” Even some women are. Though I’d hope if he were to read your clear explanation here, he’d see the problem right away. And notice that J.D.’s “fruity drinks” are considered “girly” because they’re weaker in alcohol content than ”a real man’s drink” such as whiskey. Relating a “weak” or “strong” drink to gender is in itself a sexist stereotype.
This cultural conditioning is also similar to how most people are conditioned to call an animal “it,” especially since that’s reinforced by rules of grammar. I remember as a kid being repeatedly corrected about that.