I am responding to aspects of the argument put forward by Shelley Lynn
Tremain.
She wrote:
I find the theme/title of this upcoming forum very unfortunate, for it
perpetuates, and indeed promotes, the notion that there are such things as
"races," a notion that is both scientifically unfounded and morally
unsavoury. (The term "ethnic" has the tendency to have similar racist
implications.)
May I begin with the comment in brackets - The term "ethnic" has the tendency
to have similar racist implications. - How it possible to have 'racist
implications' without first establishing the reasons for the existence of
"racism(s)" and how racism manifests itself within specific historical, political and
institutional contexts?
In the introduction to, Race and Racism in Britain, John Solomos wrote:
"What is interesting is that although many writers argue against the use of
race as an analytic category in social analysis their own accounts are
persistently bedeviled by the paradox that ideas about race continue to pervade
social, political and cultural relations."
What kind of framework are you working with, Shelley?
Moving on, Shelley's statement that the term "race equality" parallels the
term "disability equality" needs to be challenged on many levels. The
development of "race equality" and "disability equality" training should be understood
in context of what was going on within specific agendas and differing time
frames.
Disability Equality Training has it's own history and political and/or
theoretical framework - there is, of course, recognition of simultaneous oppression
- this is distinct from anything developed under the notion of "race
equality".
Shelley appears to operate from within an internal logic which is at odds
with how I've come to understand both 'race' and 'disability' - therefore, I
cannot accept how she travels from 'race' to "races" and then through a comparable
model for 'disability' and "disabilities".
The term "Disability Equally" was adopted to avoid any confusion with the
term "disability awareness" which could be misinterpreted from within a medical
model understanding of 'disability'. This decision was neither 'incidental'
nor 'interesting'; it was based on a political understanding of grounding "race
equality"within the social model.
Unfortunately, Shelley's argument relies on assumptions drawn from an
internal logic which does not rely on facts but a well of ignorance. She states:
When social model theorists use this term ("race equality") they violate
their own declaration that disability has nothing to do with individuals, but
rather is a product of society.
Sorry, Shelley, what you have outlined isn't the social model of disability.
The whole point of the social model is to address the negative interactions
that exist between impaired individuals and their social environments rather
than locating 'disability' solely within the individual's 'lack of functional
ability'.
Our focus on the negative interactions - disabling barriers - is the core
element of the theoretical framework for DET. I have no problem juxtaposing the
words 'disability' and 'equality' (I might question the definition of
'equality', but I use it as a necessary transitional term!) because it highlights the
political agenda I believe people within the Disabled People's Movement are
currently addressing.
My background as a researcher for the last 25 years has been both race and
disability issues and I welcome the debate initiated by JRF - but let's try and
have an informed debate!
Bob Williams-Findlay
Good morning,
I find the theme/title of this upcoming forum very unfortunate, for it
perpetuates, and indeed promotes, the notion that there are such things as
"races," a notion that is both scientifically unfounded and morally
unsavoury. (The term "ethnic" has the tendency to have similar racist
implications.)
Incidentally, the term "race equality" (which implies that there are "races"
of which there could be equality) parallels the term "disability equality"
(which should be recognized to imply that there are such things as
"disabilities" of which there could be equality-equality with what?
abilities...? These "disabilities" are of course "properties" of
individuals. Interestingly, the latter term (i.e. disability equality) is
most frequently used by "social model" theorists. When social model
theorists use this term they violate their own declaration that disability
has nothing to do with individuals, but rather is a product of society.
I would argue that social model and other disability theorists/activists who
use the term "disability equality" (e.g., "disability equality training")
need to give more thought to what they are recommending when they use
certain terminology. And I would definitely argue that the Joseph Rowntree
Foundation should think more carefully about the assumptions embedded in the
language that it uses.
Best regards,
Shelley Lynn Tremain
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Priestley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2003 10:30 AM
Subject: FW: Race equality and disability: Have your say!
Please reply to Jenni Laycock [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Subject: Race equality and disability: Have your say!
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is shortly due to open a discussion forum
on its website about messages from research on race equality and
disability. The forum will be free and open to all who have an
interest, whether professional or personal, in issues of race equality
and disability. We would like to invite as many people as possible to
the forum and would be grateful for anything you could do to inform
members of your organisation or other contacts who would be interested.
Our discussion forum will provide a safe space for contributors to find
out more about current research, share their own experiences and
generate ideas about how to address the discrimination and barriers
faced by black and minority ethnic disabled people and their families.
It is scheduled to coincide with two events in London and Birmingham and
will allow people attending the events to continue their discussions and
networking, whilst enabling others to join in the debates. For more
details about the events, please contact Tracey Bignall at the Race
Equality Unit ([log in to unmask]).
In the meantime, if you would like further details about the Joseph
Rowntree Foundation's work, please visit our website (www.jrf.org.uk) or
if you want to know more about the discussion forum, please contact me.
Best wishes,
Jenni Laycock Publications Officer
Telephone: 01904 615927
Fax: 01904 615922
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
www.jrf.org.uk
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