CI: Disabled identity

Question 1

Disables identities statistics

Answer 1

according to the family resources survey (20/21) 14.6million or 22% of the UK have a disability.

the general public still have a great deal of prejudice toward some disabled groups , e.g. the mentally ill or those with HIV(social attitudes survey 2007)

Question 2

‘Medical’ model of disability

Answer 2

• This view sees disability as a personal tragedy and the disabled deserve our pity
• Disabled are dependent on able-bodied and are unable to function without them.
• The medical model labels disabled people as ‘inferior’ as it is deemed abnormal to be disabled and normalisation will only occur through a cure/round - the -clock care.

Best(2005): traditionally disability was seen in terms of a person’s ability to fully participate in activities that the rest take for granted, e.g. washing ourselves , cleaning a floor, walking ,driving etc.

Question 3

‘social’ model of disability

Answer 3

-since 1980’s the medical model began to change with the rise of the social model.

-This view was developed by disabled people themselves and argued that biological disability was less important than social disability.

-Oliver: ‘it’s society which disables physically impaired people” because the disabled are excluded from full participation in society through stereotypical attitudes held by able -bodied people.

Best ‘society generates forms of discrimination and exclusion that disabled have to cope with. The problem is to be found in social constructions of prejudice that surrounds disability and not in the bodies of disabled people’.

Question 4

<Marxist>
</Marxist>

Answer 4

• it’s difficult for disabled people to construct positive identities because they are often unable to work, particularly in high -status jobs, and so are not valued as highly in a capitalist society that values people entirely in terms of their wealth and employment.

Disability & Capitalism:
Finkelstein : our negative cultural attitudes towards the disabled may be the product of capitalism’s emphasis on work as a source of identity, status and power.

pre-industrial society:
the view that able-bodied and disabled people should be segregated and treated differently did not exist.

industralisation : industralisation was responsible for a dramatic shift in cultural attitudes because capitalist society required a fit and healthy workforce to generate profits for the capitalist class.

Disabled people become an economic burden for society and are defined as abnormal and as a social problem.

Question 5

<Feminist>
</Feminist>

Answer 5

it is difficult for disabled women to construct positive identities because they are not viewed as sexually attractive ,and are often unable to become mothers , the two main routes to status for women in a patriarchal society.

Question 6

<interactionist>
</interactionist>

Answer 6

disability is a social construct: it is a label appalled to a group of people who are defined by society in a particular way.

Goffman argued that disability is a ‘stigmatised identity’.
This happens through a number of mechanisms:
1. derogatory names
2. media images
3. differential medical treatment
4. barriers in employment
5. constructed dependency

this stigma is internalised , as disabled people come to see themselves as others see them, resulting in low self-esteem.

Scott’s study into blind people in the US- found that they internalise the experts’ view of themselves and so develop a ‘blind personality.’ As part of this they developed learned helplessness: i.e. they learned that they should become reliant on sighted people.

stigmatised identities create a problem of stigmatised identities create a problem of stigma management for those who are given these labels.

they can manage this in one of 3 ways:
1. try to hide the stigma
2. admit the stigma try to relieve tension that arises in interactions
3. protect against the stigma (e.g. identity policies )

Question 7

Postmodernist views on Disability

Answer 7

Disabled people are free express themselves in many more ways than in the past due to new technology.

e.g. able-bodied avatar of women with MS on second life .

Question 8

interactionist’s evaluation on Marxists and Feminist’s view on disability identity

Answer 8

However, interactionists:
argue that Marxists and feminists view the disabled as passive. for instance, Goffman’s third strategy of becoming involved involved in identity politics suggests that disabled people are able construct resistant identities.

Question 9

structural theories’ evaluation on Postmodernist’s views on disability.

Answer 9

However, structural theories would argue that postmodernists fails to acknowledge that Signiant impact of structural inequalities on the identities of disabled people , for which new technology is unable to compensate.

Question 10

Disability as a ‘social construct’

Answer 10

• Disability activists argue that the most of the UK population have some form of impairment(장애) , such as wearing glasses, contact lenses or haring aids.
• However, people with these are not labelled as ‘disabled’ because society does not define these as a problem and therefore does not produce a social environment in which people who wear glasses are handicapped.
• People who use wheelchairs are hadicapped by society’s failure to provide a social environment in which they can be as mobile as able-bodied people.

Question 11

what is critically seen by other sociologist about Disabled identity & independence-

Answer 11

• the concept of ‘independence ‘ being an aspect of normality is seen critically by sociologists in the disabled moment . This is because that the negative social reaction of disabled people is because they are dependent and constantly in need of help.
• However, as Marsh & Keating no one is independent.
• we are all dependent on technology ,such as phone etc.

However, Marsh and Keating ask why some social mobility aids, such as wheelchairs and white sticks, attract such a negative social reaction in comparison.

Question 12

which sociologist talk about learned Helplessness?

Answer 12

Watson

Question 13

what is ‘learned helpless’ about?

Answer 13

Watson, notes that our stereotypical perceptions of disabled people about dependency and helplessness can affect how disabled people actually perceive themselves and their abilities.

-> This is known as the ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’ whereby disabled people begin to believe that they are helpless which then leads to low self-esteem and worth.

Question 14

explain Scott’s study of self-fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 14

• Looked at interactions between medical professionals and blind people in USA.
• Scott argued that the blind developed a ‘blind personality’ because they internalised the experts’ view should be experiencing psychological problems in adjusting to their loss of sight.
• This process involved ‘learned helplessness’ , that is , that they should rely on sighted people for help.

Question 15

-explain Longmore’s theory about stereotypes & media representations

Answer 15

:( Longmore: Disabled people are represented in TV as monsters, dependent on others, objects of pity etc. if the disabled are portrayed as courageous , it is often because it is contrasted with the tragedy of their situation. These stereotypes reinforce cultural stereotypes and consequently prejudice and discrimination.

=> These media representations reinforce cultural cultural stereotypes, which may in turn affect identities of the disabled.

Question 16

explain Cumberbatch and Negrine’s theory about stereotypes & media representations

Answer 16

:( Cumberbatch and Negrine: Media representation of the disabled rarely present them as “ as person , and individual, who happens also to have a disability.”- They tend to focus on disability rather than representing them as individuals

Question 17

explain Wood’s theory about stereotypes & media representations

Answer 17

:( Wood : agues that the lack of disabled people employed in the media leads to no one challenging stereotypical views of the disabled.
However, these stereotypes are likely to be challenged. e.g. BBC’s ‘Eastenders’ where one character id wheelchair-bound, but the scrip writer only focus little about the disability, but focus on character like other characters.

Question 18

positive media representation.

Answer 18

There have been recent changed in the representation of disabled people , through events such as the Paralympics in London 2012. This has led to a greater awareness and interest in these sports. in addition, some comedians have broke down the barriers and stereotypes regarding disabled people.

Question 19

How can ‘prejudice and discrimination’ affect the quality of life amongst disabled people?

Answer 19

1. Disabled find themselves segregated from able-bodied society e.g. special schools
   2. prejudice maybe translated into discrimination as employers are reluctant to employ disabled people. This leads them to live a life on welfare benefits.
   3. Brown: people with disabilities are seen as either ‘innocents or perverts’
   4. Kallianes & Rubenfeld: women with disabilities are often discriminated against . it is assumed by professionals that such women should not be having sex and that they are likely to make unsuitable mothers. This has led to a number of disabled women being forcibly sterilised or have had their own children taken into care.

Question 20

what is Master Status?

Answer 20

A dominant label that overrides all other aspects of that person’s identity.

we have different identities but for disabled people they might not identify themselves as disabled although they are disabled.

Question 21

Disabled identity & Resistance

Answer 21

social model of disability :
argues that a more positive representation of disabled people should be promoted , focusing on independence , choice and autonomy for disabled people.

the state should invest in a disabled- friendly social environment and should address prejudice and discrimination against the disabled.

disabled people are now more likely to resist definitions of disability that focus on dependency and helplessness.

Question 22

what does Antle says about disabled identity & resistance ?

Answer 22

Antle found that children with disabilities do not qualitatively differ in how they see disabilities compared to children without disabilities.

Question 23

what does Olney & Kim says about Disabled identity & resistance?

Answer 23

Olney & Kim , found that disabled people felt much more positive about their self-image, even if they were aware that able-bodied people evaluated them negatively, they , therefore, reject the medical model of disability.

Question 24

what is Disabled identity in contemporary society like?

Answer 24

critics of social model of disability :
- note that prejudice and discrimination need to be challenged .
- they also note that physical and biological factors, such as pain ,can affect the experience of social life negatively.

therefore, the disabled identity is surrounded by physical and biological factors in addition to the limitations of a social environment shaped by negative and stereotypical attitudes toward disability.

However, societal expectations around the disabled are becoming less rigid and this is reflection in the way that media are being challenged , and in the greater awareness of the ways a disabling society can restrict opportunities.

Question 25

what does Bradly suggest? about disabled identity?

Answer 25

Bradley-> she argues that identity depends very much on social , political and personal circumstances.

However, she argues that disability is becoming an increasingly politicised identity , and there is evidence to support her view:

-> there is a large disability rights movement, trying to build a more positive identity for disabled people

-> 300 deaf social clubs across Britain

-> Raves for thousands of deaf partygoers organised by a deaf DJ.

Question 26

positive views of disabled identity (summary of debate)

Answer 26

Positively Viewed

social model of disability- more positive representation are occurring and they need to focus on independence, choice ,autonomy .

interactionism- changing labels, identity is being constructed differently now.

Media representation changes- increased coverage, assimilated into mainstream(presenters),Paralympics impact.

incorporation of physically disabled now law-new building etc.

Disabled now resists definition if disability that focus on dependency and helplessness
socialisation

socialisation- Antle, children with disabilities do not quantitatively differ in how they quantitatively differ in how they see disabilities compares to children without disabilities.

Olney & Kim- Disabled people felt much more positive about self-image ,although they are aware of others labels. They reject the medical model of disability.

Question 27

Negative views on disability identity
(summary of the debate)

Answer 27

Negatively Viewed

Medical Model of Disability

Marxism- Finkelstein- Negative cultural attitudes toward disabled are a product of capitalisem , pre-industrial and industralisation, economic burden, learned helplessness .(Watson),

Feminism- Difficulty in constructing a positive identity due to sexual attractiveness labels.

interactionism- stigmatisation (Goffman), management of stigmatisation , learned helplessness and self-fulfilling prophecy (Scott), disability becomes a master status.

postmodernism- disability is a social construction, dependency V independence (Marsh& Keating)

Media representation and stereotypes
Longmore : Monsters / dependence on others
Cumberbatch & Negrine : Disabled are rarely represented as “ a person, an individual , who happens to have a disability” - focus is person , an individual, who happens to have a disability”- focus is on disability.

Wood: Lack of working disabled means challenging stereotype is difficult.

impact on Disabled identity- Lack of employment puts them on welfare benefits (poverty), Brown : disabled are seen as ‘innocents or perverts’ ,
Kailianes & Rubenfeld - Disabled women discriminated against - unsuitable mothers / forced sterilliation.

Question 28

What does Brown says about media’s view on disability?

Answer 28

Disability people seen either innocent or pervert.

Question 29

What Longmore says about how disability identity is seen in the media?

Answer 29

Disabled people represented as TV monsters and dependence on others

Question 30

What does Comberbatch & Negrine talks about media representations and stereotypes?

Answer 30

Disabled people are rarely represented as a person, an individual , who happens to have a disability- focus is on disability.

Question 31

What does Wood talks about disabled people on media ?

Answer 31

There is lack of disabled people on the media .meaning it’s hard to challenging stereotypes

Question 32

What does Marsh and Keating talks about disabled people dependence.

Answer 32

They argue that being independent cannot be ‘norm ‘ as we are all dependent on each other& technology so being independent isn’t a norm.