Sociology Paper 1 Section A: Disability Identity

Question 1

Shakespeare: medical model

Answer 1

Limitations caused by disability leads to the defining of a disabled person by their impairment. He argues that disabled people are socialised into seeing themselves as victims.

Question 2

What is ‘victim-blaming’ (medical model)?

Answer 2

The problem lies with the individual, not with a society that hasn’t met their needs.

Question 3

Shakespeare: social model

Answer 3

Focuses on the social & physical barriers to inclusion that may exist, such as building design. Society is therefore the disabling factor, therefore disability is socially constructed. It rests on assumptions of what is ‘normal’.

Question 4

Master status

Answer 4

Being disabled transcends all other aspects of identity and becomes the defining characteristic by which the individual is judged. Disability ca become the defining aspect of identity to others.

Question 5

Learned helplessness

Answer 5

Some disabled people may internalise the idea that they are incapable of changing a situation, and thus fail to take action to help themselves. Policies such as segregated schooling may encourage this.

Question 6

Gill

Answer 6

A polio survivor, arguing that when you become disabled, previous feelings of fear & pity get turned on yourself.

Question 7

Murugami

Answer 7

Argues that a disabled person has the ability to construct a self-identity that accepts their impairment but is independent of it. Disability is a characteristic, not who they are.