Hello. I am working on this subject at the moments, using habemasian t
critical theory to HEIs under SENDA. Sofar I haven't encountered literature
on marginalisation (I prefer this term than opresion really) of PWDs from
knowledge.(please keep me in the loop if you happen to have some good
articles)
In my personal view, wealthy societies can affortd to create what
Finkelstein calls the 'disability paradox' which is a circle of dependency
and marginalisation by the welfare state. Disabled people were excluded
from proletarisation since industrialisation as Oliver, M . points out.
However, in contemporary UK the welfare state (an the extraction of world
resources via Wolrd Bank) has made possible in some countries and for some
PWD to use the most important comodity in capitalism (TIME-La Salle) to
acquire knowledge. Then we have the real pleasure to read brilliant and
gifted disabled researchers who otherwise would not have appeared in any
other period of time. However the current institutions still maintain
structures, procedures, and pardigms that exclude people with different
learning styles, sensory preferences or physical/mental impairements. The
doors however are not completely shut (that's basically the reason why the
term oppression is a rather political term to create identity- hope
T.Shakespeare would agree with this), debate is possible and the moral
ground has been won for change to happen. Change however is slow and not
without contradictions and backlashes. Best regards, Andy Velarde
----- Original Message -----
From: "LILITH Finkler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 5:36 PM
Subject: is academia oppressive to disabled people?
> >From recent posts to the list re: the PhD opportunities at Leeds, I
> understand that folks think academia is oppressive to disabled people.
What
> is true, is that within an oppressive society, academic institutions can
> also be oppressive. After all, social structures reflect the values within
> which they are created and maintained. We live in an ableist society for
> sure!
>
> It is also true that academia reflects the class interests of those in
> positions of power. By controlling the production and reproduction of
> knowledge and even deciding what constitutes "knowledge," the academy
> marginalizes many poor and working class people.
>
> However, having said all of that, my own academic expereriences have been
> very liberating. Faculty and staff in my department are aware of my
> psychiatric survivor status and are incredibly supportive. Because of my
> rather public approach in advancing disability rights, I have been
fortunate
> to also connect with other disabled students in my program. We provide
> informal support to each other. That has meant so much to me.
>
> So, it seems to me that while institutions are oppressive, individuals
> within those institutions can also be supportive. This is one of the
> inherent contradictions residing within the academy. If anyone is aware of
> articles on this subject, I would be keen to read them. Thanks, Lilith
>
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