The Politics of Ableism

Proposes the need for a field of ability studies which examines ableism

Introduction

Ableism is a concept that is not well understood. It is most often used to describe the negative treatment of disabled people (Answers.com, 2007; Merriam-Webster, 2007). Its use in this case parallels the terms sexism, racism, ageism and other isms (Miller et al. , 2004). However, I find the current use of ableism and disableism limited both in content and scope. Every ism has two components. Something we value and something we do not. The subject of the isms can be negative or positive. For example, ageism reflects the negative labelling and treatment of the elderly. We could equally call ageism youthism, which values the abilities of youth. Racism carries a double meaning: a value of one race over another and the discrimination against another race. Sexism describes (usually) the valuing of the male sex and the discrimination (usually) against the female sex. Ableism values certain abilities, which leads to disableism the discrimination against the 'less able'. Ableism often confuses the valuing or obsession with ability with the term disableism. However besides confusing ableism with disableism speaking about ableism only in connection with the so-called 'disabled people' is also a problem. I use the terms ableism (Wolbring, 2006a, 2007a, 2007b, 2007c, 2007d, 2007e) and as a consequence disableism/disablism in a much broader sense than the current definitions.

What is ableism?

Ableism is a set of beliefs, processes and practices that produce - based on abilities one exhibits or values - a particular understanding of oneself, one's body and one's relationship with others of humanity, other species and the environment, and includes how one is judged by others (Wolbring, 2006a, 2007a, 2007b, 2007c, 2007d). Ableism reflects the sentiment of certain social groups and social structures that value and promote certain abilities, for example, productivity and competitiveness, over others, such as empathy, compassion and kindness. This preference for certain abilities over others leads to a labelling of real or perceived deviations from or lack of 'essential' abilities as a diminished state of being, leading or contributing to justifying various other isms (Wolbring, 2006a, 2007a, 2007b, 2007c, 2007d).

Ableism is an umbrella ism for other isms such as racism, sexism, casteism, ageism, speciesism, anti-environmentalism, gross...