Groch (1998) defines ableism "...as the belief in the natural physical and
mental superiority of nondisabled people and the prejudice and
discriminatory behavior that arise as a result of this belief" (p. 151).
Like racism, ableism is also essentially ideological, rising from the same,
mostly unexamined, "assumption of biological inferiority" (p. 202). It
asserts that "people without disabilities are 'normal' and those without
disabilities are somehow not equal" (Maluso, 2001). Ableism is equivalent to
the earlier term handicapism, a cultural artifact that was compared to
racism and sexism (Bogdan and Biklen, 1977).
In the same ways that whiteness remains an unseen scopic territory of race,
produced by the racism of white Eurocentric middle class men, so normal
remains an unseen visual hegemony of ability, produced by the ableism of
dominating white Eurocentric middle class temporarily-able-bodied men.
Bogdan, R. & Biklen, D. (1977). Handicapism. Social Policy, 7,
14-19.
Groch, S. (1998). Pathways to protest: The making of oppositional
consciousness by people with disabilities. Dissertation Abstracts
International, 59 (12) 4533A. (University Microfilms No. 9913804)
Maluso, D. (2001). What is ableism? Retrieved May 28, 2001, from the
World Wide Web: http://www.theworks.baka.com/prejudice/able-whatis.html
Phil Smith
Director, VT Self-Determination Project
103 South Main Street, Weeks Building
Waterbury, VT 05671
(802) 241-2617
Fax: (802) 241-4224
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From: The Disability-Research Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
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Sent: Thursday, 23 August 2001 8:49
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: 'Ablist'??
The term 'ablist' was in a quote I used in a chapter of my thesis recently,
and
I have been asked to 'define' it. I know what it means and the context in
which it is used, but can't find a definition or explanation anywhere else
that
I can quote! Can anyone help? Please?
Thanks,
Jenny
Jenny Parry
PhD Student
Centre for Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice
School of Social Sciences
University of Wales
BANGOR
Gwynedd LL57 2DG
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