In a message dated 24/08/01 09:01:59 GMT Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes:
> I agree, you have to start where disabled people are at and validating a
> participants standpoint is important.
>
> Pauline said:
> "During interviews, I have found that
> levels of impairment seriously impact on disabled women's experiences of
dv,
> with regard to intensified vulnerability to abuse in relation to
> difficulties
> in protection, negative social reaction to certain degrees of
impairment".>>
>
> Isn't there a difference in whether the researcher taps into the
> "subjective" state of an individual or the "oppression" around the
> individual.
>
> Within social model thinking, participants will perceive their lived
> experiences to be influenced by experiences of impairment - if they have
> not
> developed enough social conscious. to know otherwise.
>
> I agree with Clair when she addressed the issue of individualizing the
> experiences of participants.
>
> What point is there in any emancipatory research, unless it has an element
> of emancipation and as a consequence, collective responsibility which
> challenges the status quo? Otherwise isn't there is a danger of compounding
> the oppression/abuse?
>
> I do support the hierarchy of oppression theory (strongly). Pauline has
> concerns that this may fragment the movement and my answer to this is, the
> movement was already fragmented. The theory of oppression seems to be
giving
> us some political direction and much needed motivation!
> See Crip-stirring Culture: http://www.johnnypops.demon.co.uk/poetry/
>
> There seems to be misunderstandings on this list as a consequence of how
> some
> members communicate their messages.
>
> It seems that if the email is not written in polite society systematic
> speak, with t's doubly crossed and i's doubly dotted, so to speak or with
> lots of social niceties, a thank you here and a big word there, there
must
> be something very suspicious about that person.
>
> The attack on Larry was unjust and happened because of the "perceived" tone
> of this email.
>
> This seems to be the story of our lives and it inhibits communication.
>
Yes I attempt to tap into individual's subjective state but explore how this
may be (is) influenced by disabling experiences of a exclusionary oppressive
non-disabled society. This goes without saying as I the research is
underpinned by holistic ontology. But I feel very uncomfortable claiming that
participants' are falsely conscious of their situation ... I hope to explore
social oppression and the lived reality of participants in tandem ... as I'm
sure you're aware many disabled people are not aware of the social model.
This is not a good thing ... but acts as a reminder to us, of how the
isolation of disabled people militates against consciousness raising.
Indeed, during interviews it does jar when people talk of their impairments
in a self-blaming, individualistic manner - but I cannot dismiss these
comments. This again relates to the hiearchy within the disabled population
- those who have the resources (whether cultural, material or social) to get
their voices heard, and more importantly, to be listened to. There are many
disabled people out there who do not leave their homes at all, what are we
doing to engage with these people - and how do you propose we raise their
consciousness ... or is that imposing our (more socially powerful)
definitions on them.
Yes, this individualising of disability has been found to render disabled
women vulnerable to abuse - as there is a tendency to self-blame, as opposed
to looking toward a disablist, classist, racist patriarchal society which
implicitly (often explicitly) legitimates this abuse, by erecting a society
which allows such abuse to flourish. How do you propose to develop
'unpoliticised' disabled, isolated people's consciousness ... Any ideas?
Surely you're contradicting yourself regarding comments about the attack on
Larry = aren't you proposing this to be a site of free communication .....
Just for the record, I wasn't personally attacking Larry ... it is not my
wish to attack a person I do not know personally - and email communication
only give you a tiny fragment of a person's worldview.
Regards
Pauline
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