Disability and identity Flashcards
who finds it a significant aspect of identity? + what events raise awareness
those living with a physical impairments find that it’s the most significant aspect of identity - especially how they’re seen by others
- events such as paralympics raise awareness in positive achievements by others
- the 1995 discrimination act gave legal protection and rights to disabled people, which strengthened their identity.
what is the medical model?
sees disability as a medical problem, focusing on limitations caused by impairments, this has been the prevalent approach taken by society.
what does the medical model lead to and what is the problem? + what does Shakespeare argue
this approach leads to defining a disabled person by their disability or impairment.
- the problem is that this leads to a ‘victim blaming’ mentality, where the problem lies with the disabled individual rather than a society which doesn’t meet their needs
Shakespeare argues disabled people are socialised into seeing themselves as victims and blame their failures for being disabled.
what is the social model?
focuses on the social + physical barriers to inclusion which needs to exist, such as correct facilitation of buildings and public spaces which deny access to those with mobility problems.
what does the social model lead to? and what does Shakespeare argue?
leads to the view that disability is socially constructed, since those with physical impairments are NEGATIVELY stigmatised.
Shakespeare argues that there are obstacles when achieving a positive identity, because they’re socialised into being inferior and pitted by society.
what did disability charity ‘scope uk’ find?
found that 2/3 of people feel awkwardness when talking to a disabled person, the survey also suggested that 43% of people don’t know anyone who is disabled, this can mean that not all disabilities are visible, and not all disabled people require a wheelchair
what does the label ‘disabled’ carry and what do interactionists call this? + what is an issue?
the label ‘disabled’ carries a social stigma (negative label) which affects all interactions between the disabled person and people they meet.
- interactionists call this master status. this means that it exceeds the limits onto all aspects of identity and becomes a significant characteristic in how someone is judged
- another issue is that when someone is disabled their whole identity revolves on their disability, and ignores their nationality, sexuality, or age
what does Zola argue?
argues that the vocabulary people use to describe disabled people is borrowed from discriminatory able-bodied people in society - eg. de-formed, dis-eased, ab-normal
what does Zola find that the vocabulary people use to describe disabled people leads to?
this leads to learned helplessness, which shows how disabled people may internalise the idea that they are incapable of changing a situation, and failing to take action themselves. this leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy, since they believe the negative labels which are said about them and become what they feared/
what do Keating and Santuzzi argue?
argue that people downplay their disability because of fear and rejection, which leads to a lower-self esteem.
what does Hunt argue?
argues that the media portrays disabled people as pathetic or as a burden
what does Murugami argue?
argues that a disabled person has the ability to construct a self identity that reject their negative labels, this is when they accept their impairment and become independent of it. this means that they see themselves as a person first, and see their disability as one of their many characteristics.
what does Watson illustrate about Murugami’s point?
Watson illustrates that point by saying, ‘I know this is going to sound very strange to you, but I don’t see myself as a disabled person’
what aspects are there to show that attitudes to disability have significantly changed over the years?
- 1995 discrimination Act highlighted that disabled people can form a positive identity without fear or discrimination
- Scope’s ‘End the Awkward’ campaign - highlights how negative stigmatisation towards disabled can end, because of acceptance, activism and pride
- Historically, disabled people were looked down on in society, and often made fun of an excluded - Nowadays disabled people have the ability to perform a positive identity without fear.
why is disability significant aspect of someone’s identity?
because it continues to define who someone is, and how they’re treated
