Disabled Identity

Question 1

Ridley (2014)

Answer 1

Ridley is a comedian with cerebral palsy who ponders “does disability make you feel awkward?”

Ridley calls the 4/5ths of the population who aren’t disabled the “not yet disabled” as being able bodied isn’t a lifetime guarantee

Question 2

Marxist Finkelsten (1980)

Answer 2

Suggests that societies negative perception of disability could be due to capitalism and the emphasis of work as a source of identity, status and power

Question 3

What is the medical model

Answer 3

Sees disability as a medical problem, focusing on the limitations. This approach has been taken by society for a long time and leads to defining a person by their disability.

This leads to a victim blaming mentality where the problem lies with the individual not with society

Question 4

What is the social model

Answer 4

Focuses on the physical and social barriers to inclusion. E.g- attitudes against those with disabilities.

Society is therefore the disabling factor and leads to the view that disability is socially constructed.

Question 5

Shakespeare

Answer 5

Argues that there are major obstacles to forming a positive disabled identity and disabled people are often socialised to see themselves as inferior.

He points out that disabled people are often isolated from one another, so forming a strong, collective identity is difficult.

There is also a lack of positive role models with disabilities in public life and the media

Question 6

Goffman

Answer 6

Being disabled can be a “master status”- meaning it becomes more important than any other part of identity for self image. People are viewed as disabled before anything else.

Question 7

Zola (1982)

Answer 7

Vocabulary of disability is negative and discriminatory

Question 8

Watson (1998)

Answer 8

Disabled people respond to the constant assumption that they are helpless and dependant by developing low self esteem (self fulfilling prophecy)

Question 9

Murgugami (2009)

Answer 9

Argues a disabled person has the ability to construct a self identity

Question 10

Scott (1969)

Answer 10

Argued that the blind developed a “blind personality” as the internalised and he experts view that they should be experiencing psychological problems in adjusting to the loss of sight.