2.5 Disability and feminism

Disability and feminism intersect in complex ways, revealing unique challenges faced by disabled women. This topic explores how gender and disability identities interact, creating compounded disadvantages and overlapping systems of oppression. It highlights the importance of considering multiple, intersecting forms of marginalization in women's studies.

The social model of disability challenges traditional medical approaches, emphasizing societal barriers as the primary source of disability. This aligns with feminist critiques of medicalization and explores how ableism intersects with sexism to create unique experiences for disabled women. The topic also examines the historical context of disability rights alongside feminist movements.

Intersectionality of disability and gender

• Examines the complex interplay between disability and gender identities in feminist theory and practice
• Highlights how experiences of disabled women differ from both non-disabled women and disabled men
• Emphasizes the importance of considering multiple, intersecting forms of oppression in women's studies

Disability studies vs feminist theory

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• Disability studies focuses on societal barriers and ableism, challenging medical models of disability
• Feminist theory addresses gender-based discrimination and patriarchal structures in society
• Intersection reveals unique challenges faced by disabled women, often overlooked by both fields
• Highlights need for collaborative approach to address complex experiences of disabled women

Overlapping systems of oppression

• Demonstrates how ableism and sexism interact to create compounded disadvantages for disabled women
• Includes discrimination in healthcare, employment, education, and social settings
• Reveals how societal expectations of femininity often conflict with disability experiences
• Explores concept of "double discrimination" where disabled women face barriers related to both gender and disability

Intersectional identities and experiences

• Acknowledges diverse experiences within the disabled women community based on race, class, sexuality, and other factors
• Examines how multiple marginalized identities interact to shape unique lived experiences
• Highlights importance of considering individual contexts when addressing issues of disability and gender
• Explores concept of "multiple minority stress" experienced by individuals with intersecting marginalized identities

Historical context of disability rights

• Traces the evolution of disability rights movement alongside feminist movements
• Highlights how disability activism has influenced and been influenced by feminist thought
• Examines the historical exclusion of disabled voices from mainstream feminist discourse

Disability rights movement

• Emerged in the 1960s alongside other civil rights movements
• Focused on deinstitutionalization, independent living, and equal rights for disabled individuals
• Key legislation includes Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990
• Emphasized "Nothing About Us Without Us" principle, demanding disabled leadership in decision-making

Feminist disability theory emergence

• Developed in the 1980s and 1990s as a response to gaps in both disability studies and feminist theory
• Aimed to address the unique experiences and perspectives of disabled women
• Challenged assumptions about disability within feminist circles and gender within disability studies
• Pioneered by scholars like Susan Wendell, Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, and Jenny Morris

Key figures and activists

• Judy Heumann, disability rights activist and leader in independent living movement
• Helen Keller, deaf-blind author and political activist who challenged perceptions of disability
• Simi Linton, disability studies scholar who critiqued ableism in academia and society
• Mia Mingus, disability justice advocate focusing on intersectionality and transformative justice

Social model of disability

• Represents a paradigm shift in understanding disability within feminist and disability studies
• Challenges traditional medical and charitable approaches to disability
• Emphasizes societal barriers as the primary source of disability, rather than individual impairments

Medical model vs social model

• Medical model views disability as an individual problem requiring medical intervention or cure
• Social model identifies societal barriers (physical, attitudinal, systemic) as the primary cause of disability
• Shifts focus from "fixing" individuals to removing societal obstacles and promoting inclusion
• Aligns with feminist critiques of medicalization of women's bodies and experiences

Ableism and societal barriers

• Ableism refers to discrimination and prejudice against disabled individuals
• Includes physical barriers (inaccessible buildings, transportation)
• Encompasses attitudinal barriers (stereotypes, low expectations, pity)
• Systemic barriers in education, employment, healthcare perpetuate inequality for disabled people

Disability as social construct

• Challenges notion of disability as inherent, fixed characteristic
• Emphasizes how societal norms and expectations create concept of "disability"
• Draws parallels with feminist theory's critique of gender as socially constructed
• Explores how definitions of disability vary across cultures and historical periods