what does anthropology teach us about how different cultures respond to disability?
most cultures develop a notion of the “normal body-mind”. study how different societies construct this idea and treat those who fall outside it
who was Evans-pritchard, and what did he find about disability?
compared disability across societies and found it was often dominated by religious explanations– seen as a punishment buy the gods, leading to neglect, banishment, or punishment
what do douglas and turners concepts of liminality and ambiguity mean?
they describe how people with impairments occupy an ‘in between space” neither fully inside nor outside social norms, making them seem threatening, deviant, or needing control
what is the surplus population thesis?
in societies where economic survival is difficult, “weak” or dependent people are viewed as disposable threats. ignores how capitalism creates inequality
how did indigenous societies traditionally view disability?
they respected individuals with disabilities, seeing everyone as having a role in the collective. Some held special roles, such as healers, emphasizing learning, and community strength
how did European colonizer’s view disability differently?
europeans used disability labels as tools of control and assimilation, defining and managing who was “fit”. their model weaponized social assistance to enforce assimilation
what were the Poor Laws and British north america acts impacts?
they shifted responsibility from community care to government, leading to institutionalization and disadvantaging people with disabilities
what charactertized institutional care in the 1800s-1900s
people with disabilities were isolated in asylums, seen as deviant. Treatments included surgery and electroshock. placed on city edges, hiding residents and enforcing eugenics
what led to deinstitutionalization?
disability activism, new psychiatric drugs, and cost savings. However, lack of support left many homeless or trapped in the medical systems proving eligibility for care
how do societal views of disability change over time?
disability definitions shift with medical advances, economic changes, and social policies- even if a persons condition stays the same
how did disability become an administrative category?
it was defined by ability to work or exclusion from work, with clear criteria and benefits. Originated in Germanys early welfare state to manage rather than empower workers
what protects disability rights in Canada?
The charter of rights and freedoms (1982), canadian human rights act (1977-85), ontario human rights code (1990)
how does the WHO define disability?
as an umbrella term for impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions, arising from interaction between health conditions and environmental/personal factors
what makes disability complex?
it involves both body-mind features and social barriers; can be visible or invisible, permanent or temporary, and change throughout life
why has disability increased between 2017-2022
measurement stayed the same, but aging (baby boomers), and rising disability rates among younger people- mental health
what type of disabilities have grown most?
mental health, learning, seeing disabilities- pandemics long-term impacts
why is COVID-19 called a mass disabling event?
around 3.5 million people continue to experience long term effects of infection, leading to chronic disability
why does language matter when discussing disability?
it should put the person first and avoid defining disability as their identity
terms created by non disabled people reflect medical control
why do people often feel their disability isn’t severe enough to count?
society frames disability as extreme and visible. Images focus on physical impairments, creating stigma and making people feel disingenuous if others have it worse
how are most disabilities today defined and understood?
most involve mental diagnoses. Disability is socially constructed- ideas about who is disabled vary across cultures, time and those doing the labeling
what are the three core models of disability discussed in early sociology?
medical: curing
eugenics: extinguishing
rehabilitation: diminishing/concealing/adapting
what does the radical disability model argue?
that oppression comes from social relations and values that privilege the ideal person- cis, male, straight, productive, profitable- not from disabled people themselves
what was parsons main contribution to early disability sociology?
he introduced the “sick role”, arguing illness is deviant but blameless; the person must seek help and try to recover so society maintains order
what assumptions did parsons make about health?
health is required for performing social roles (worker, student, parent), making illness undesirable and dependent
