Anywhoozles, this post is about ABLEISM borrowed from myself from a workshop I ran for teens facilitated in the recent past (disclaimer on some of the teen speak and poor grammar (unrelated)).
So what is this ableism deal? Glad you asked. Ableism is discrimination against people with disabilities in favor of people who are not disabled.
Would anyone care to share how they think sexism, homophobia and ableism are similar?
Exactly correct! Ableism is similar to racism and sexism in that it is a system by which mainstream society denigrates, devalues, and thus oppresses those with disabilities, while privileging those without disabilities.
Ableist societies tend to treat themselves as the standard or norm and excludes everyone else who doesn’t fit that definition of “normal”. What is considered to be normal then becomes the standard by which everyone is compared and valued.
Murderball:
Many people, including those whom the movie follows, see it as a testament to the heterogeneity of any given arbitrary grouping (although not in so many words). The movie shows that no matter their abilities, some of the athletes err on the side of jerkishness whereas others are veritable sweethearts. In any group there's a mixture of individuals and for whatever reason you've got dickweeds and teddy bears alike.
These are a few of the myths that consistently come up in research on stereotypes of people with different abilities:
1. People with disabilities are sad, bitter or angry at the world
Many believe that people with disabilities are either mean or angry and will use this as an excuse not to include them. Understandably, some people with acquired disabilities may face emotional hardships just as people without disabilities also have 'bad days'. However, most frustrations come from lack of access and equitable opportunities. Discounting ‘righteous anger’ can be seen as an attempt to silence those who voice their opinions about injustice.
2. They are handicapped / crippled
Individuals with disabilities are not handicapped- instead it is society that often inflicts or puts up barriers to activities and opportunities that others might have. Someone might find it much more difficult to access a room if there are only stairs available if they use a certain type of mobility device. Here it is not the person themselves that has a deficiency but instead it is the inflexible architecture that has limited their right to full easy access. Another way to frame this: the individual has a physical condition that can be a disability in certain contexts.
For example, my friend's height is an asset when reaching for her fav cereal in the grocery store but can put her in a difficult position when sitting in those new 'economy' seats on planes. Here it is the environment in both situations that causes the difference in access.
3. People with disabilities are unattractive / ugly
This goes along with stigma and ignorance as it is an expression of the notion that somehow anyone that does not conform exactly to a strict ‘ideal body’ is unattractive.
What is the ideal? I won’t go into specifics but overall for both men and women, society tells us that in order to be beautiful or attractive one must be young, ‘fit’, have preferably bronzed skin and shiny hair and also must not have any disability. Lots of people buy into this ideal and spend lots of time and money to achieve an arguably unattainable image.
4. People with a disability are crazy and/or have a mental disability.
It is very difficult to look at someone and accurately assess that they have a mental condition, illness, disorder or developmental disability – so don’t try it! As well, conditions are unpredictable at times and change from day to day. For instance, someone may require a wheelchair one day and not the next due to chronic fatigue syndrome.
Mental illness has a huge amount of stigma attached to it which limits people from seeking help for fear of being judged or from the belief that it is ‘just in their heads’.
Almost 1 out of 2 people will experience mental illness at some point in their lives thus education is vital. Talk to the person themselves (not their assistant or friend). Sometimes people with physical disabilities will have a developmental disability but not always just as some individuals will have an invisible disability such as a developmental disability, mental illness, chronic condition or disorder, or a cognitive impairment.
5. All people who have disabilities are heroes or superhumans
It can be seen as patronizing to some to say that it is “amazing that they can get through the day with a disability”. This does not mean that it is not difficult but all of us have challenges we face during the day and we face them each in our own way. Achievements can be celebrated and valued but must be done so by taking the individual into account. It can also be difficult as those with disabilities are typically only profiled in the media if they have achieved amazing feats leading to unreasonable expectations.
I have a friend with a visual impairment who says it's hard when people commend him on taking the bus when this is completely natural to him as he has done so since elementary school. If they would talk to him they might find out he was a multi-medaled Paralympic swimmer.
Ultimately, a lot of what we are taught about individuals with different abilities through school, friends, movies, television, the news and even textbooks are stereotypes, which depersonalize people with disabilities. This leads to exclusion and a lot of stigma that limits people with disabilities and those without disabilities. I know as a kid I used the terms spaz, crazy and retarded before I had any clue as to what they implied.
We can examine our own beliefs and think critically about them leading to increased self-awareness thereby allowing us to move past the stereotypes. If you feel that it is an appropriate time and place, challenge your friends' stereotypes (tactfully). By challenging our belief system and thinking critically about issues we will be able to break down some of the barriers that prevent the full inclusion of all people.
And it's more than just waiting for the john...
