Disability and Ableism Flashcards
(5 cards)
Two categories of social conditions that create disability: Straightforward conditions and subtle cultural factors
Straightforward conditions are those that create illness or injury. The social environment creates these conditions, such as physical trauma or lack of resources (ex: injury from a war). Subtle cultural factors are those that involve the norms/expectations of normality. Society disables people that do not fit in with these (ex: expectations for efficiency not accommodating someone who requires more time)
Eli Clare and the ideology of cure
It is the idea/logic that disability needs to be treated, cured, or eradicated. Ideology of cure views disabled individuals as inferior in some way, and seeks to restore them to the “original/normal” state which is superior. It relies on controlling what is considered “normal”
The 3 tenets of the ideology of cure
The disabled individual is damaged, and the harm must be identified. The original state is superior, and the body without the disability is desired. Seeking restoration, as in wishing to return to the original state or repair the disability.
How is the ideology of cure violent according to Clare?
Justifies mistreatment and eradication. If an individual is labeled as “disabled” in some way, then it provides an excuse for them to be “fixed”. Ignoring the beauty of disability. There is some value in the perspectives that disabled people have in their lives.
Pace of life
The pace of life in society is the speed at which society moves. It is how fast everyone wants things to be accomplished. If the pace of life increases, more people will become disabled. This is because of both physical damages and because there will be less people who can meet the new expectations of “normal” performance.
