Dinner in the Dark

Abstract

In this thesis, I examine the productivity of emulation experiences as they relate to building empathy for systems of oppression by utilizing Dinner in the Dark, a vision impairment simulation dinner, hosted by the Boston College Undergraduate Government of Boston College Council for Students with Disabilities, as a case study. Drawing from semi-structured qualitative interviews with 19 participants of Dinner in the Dark and field notes taken on site of both nights of the dinner, I find that developing empathy or experiencing an increase in empathy following Dinner in the Dark did not always necessarily translate into an inclusive and non-stereotypical understanding of the visually impaired disabled identity. In other words, although simulation may promote empathy, emulating a state of being that one is not naturally in possession of, especially if it is also for a brief period, may provide misleading information as well as prompt discrimination.