As someone born with disabilities, this article hits home. Ableism needs to be fought. It is to be despised by all good people. There’s no arguing: disability is a genetic variation and part of human diversity. Disabilities will always be an aspect of the human experience. Who can say that they won’t be disabled at some point in their life? You can’t. That said, let’s be clear: ableism is a result of the commodification of the human experience, or capitalism. That is, capitalism has saturated law and society so intensely that it begins to define “functioning” and “whole” by one’s capacity for “economic productivity” (within a system that is already structured to highly benefit those who are resourced, white and male). Notice the correlation between human worth and “wholeness” as defined through strictly capitalist paradigms. Ableism is perpetuating a “normalized” and narrow standard of a valuable human experience; only certain types of functioning, experiencing, producing and living in our society can be esteemed. You and I are worth more than our production. Your body, my body is more than a means to an end. We need to challenge and really talk about who receives dignity and value in society, and to start naming the grotesque nature of ableism. We can and do exist uniquely. Disability is diversity and diversity is beautiful. Does disability have challenges? Ask the person. For me, yes. Am I still worthy of care, dignity and love? Always. Disablement comes from a lack of inclusion, a strict adherence to ‘normalcy’, and the inability to value other types of ways that people move, understand and experience the world.
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 22:54:28 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015