Relationship of Identity to Disability
Relationship of Identity to Disability
What is disability? No single, agreed definition
Better to look at CATEGORIES of disability
Different disabilities affect different people in different ways
Not all disabilities are visible, we could all become disabled
Medical / social models of disability
Shakespeare’s argument against the word ‘disability’ – too linked to negative identity of being ‘disabled’. Thinks we should all use the terms ‘impaired’ / ‘impairment’ instead
Themes for revision include
•The nature of disability as a social phenomenon
•Identities associated with disabilities
•Reasons for differences between those of different abilities/disabilities
•Changes in disability related identities
There is no single definition of disability in use in the UK
Categories of disability – each of which may have an impact on a person’s identity
•Physical
•Visual
•Hearing
•Intellectual
•Psychological
•Disabling diseases
There are different views of disability WITHIN social groups as well as between them
People with physical and psychological impairments have been represented in many ways by western society over the years – as holy, special, and, in much less respectful ways
Disabilities can affect people in different ways, even when one person has the same type of disability as another
Some disabilities may be hidden or not easy to see
Anyone can have a disability and a disability can occur at any point in a person’s life
Models of disability – traditional ‘MEDICAL’ model of disability
Key sociologist – Best
Why ‘medical’?
Who ‘owns’ this model?
What assumptions about disability are being made in this model?
Note the key term ‘labelled’
The more recent ‘SOCIAL’ model of disability
Key sociologist – Oliver
How is this model different?
Who ‘owns’ this model?
Note the key term – ‘social constructions’
•Shakespeare (1994) – argues that the ‘label’ of disability is the real problem
•For an individual to be categorised as ‘disabled’ becomes more of a problem to them than the actual disability they experience
•Shakespeare suggests we should use the word IMPAIRMENT rather than disability
•Everyone is ‘impaired’ in some way, not everyone would consider themselves to be ‘disabled’, however
•Society should ADAPT – disabled/impaired – everyone should have access to the same benefits and services of society as everyone else
Disability and identity – FOUR KEY CONCEPTS
1.Disability as a SOCIAL CONSTRUCT
2.The disabled identity and INDEPENDENCE
3.The disabled identity and CAPITALISM
4.The disabled identity and LEARNED HELPLESSNESS
DISABILITY as a SOCIAL CONSTRUCT
Most of the UK population are IMPAIRED in some way – not everyone with and impairment is labelled ‘disabled’
‘Disability’ has become linked to ‘problem’, not all impairments create problems
Colour blind? Flat-footed? You have ‘impairments’ society can cope with, you’re not a PROBLEM
Mobility problems? Blind? You have ‘disabilities’ that society may see as a ‘problem’ because it must make adjustments for you
DISABILITY as a problem, therefore, BECOMES A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT
Disabled Identity and INDEPENDENCE
‘Disabled’ people frequently seen as dependent and constantly in need of help
Marsh and Keating (2006) challenge this view and argue that few of us are truly independent. Many of us rely on –
Transport
Mobile ‘phones
Fast food
Glasses?
Coloured paper?
Big print? etc
However, the things that help most of us be independent are not seen as negatively as wheelchairs, white sticks, mobility scooters etc
Disabled identity and CAPITALISM
Capitalist society sees WORK as a key source of status, power & IDENTITY
Capitalist society sees the disabled as not part of a ‘healthy’ workforce
Disabled people do NOT make money for capitalists
Disabled people become a ‘burden’ on society
Capitalism gives the disabled a ‘problem’ identity
This is obviously from the MARXIST perspective (Finkelstein – 1980)
Disability and Learned HELPLESSNESS
Disabled people may see their disabilities in terms of the stereotyped ideas of wider society (Watson 1998)
Disabled people ‘accept’ the stereotype and develop identities based on low self-esteem and low self worth (Watson 1998)
Watson was explaining that some disabled people accept the LABEL of disability that becomes a SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY (a key concept – it’s when we live UP or DOWN to what society expects from the LABEL it has given us)
Self-fulfilling prophecies may lead the disabled to develop an identity of ‘LEARNED HELPLESSNESS’ (depending on other people for help)
Disability and the Mass Media
THREE sociologists – disability in the mass media
Longmore
Cumberbatch and Negrine
Wood
The disabled identity and RESISTANCE
The disabled identity – recent developments
