1 The Stigma of

Disability
What can Murphy teach us?
2 Definition of Stigma
Sign of social unacceptability: the shame or disgrace attached to something regarded as socially unacceptable
Three part process: stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination
3 Murphy...
Disability is defined by society and given meaning by culture; it is a social malady (Murphy, p. 4).
Theory of social construction
4
If I lived in a society where being in a wheel chair was no more remarkable than wearing glasses and if the community
was completely accepting and accessible, my disability would be an inconvenience and not much more than that. It is
society which handicaps me, far more seriously and completely than the fact that I have spina bifida (Harris, p. 95,
2000).
5 Murphy...
For the disabled are a not a breed apart but a metaphor for the human condition (p. 5).
Romans 3:23
Irving Zola: We are all temporarily abled.
6 Terminology
(for roughly 30% of
the population)
Impairment?
Handicap?
Disability?
7 Definitions of
disability
from Nagi and Dr.
David Creasey
Medical definition
Economic definition
8 Sociopolitical
Focus:
Emphasis:
Emphasis:
...fundametal restrictions of a disability may be located in the surroundings that people encounter rther than within...
a person with a disability (Hahn, 37).
9 Could we eventually
eliminate disability
as we now define it?
10 Stigma Theory
Proposed by Erving Goffman
Greek practice of branding or marking slaves
Social practice in which particular human traits are deemed to be not only different but deviant
It is the dominant group that determines which differences are inferior and to perpetuate these judgements.
11 Stigma, cont.
Goffman distinguishes what he terms the normate-the standard by which we all are measured. He asserts that the
normate in our society is young, married, white, urban, northern, Protestant, college educated, fully employed, of good
complexion, desirable height and weight and athletic!
Difference is viewed as deviate
12 influence of
disability-related
factors
Level of severity
Degree of visibility
Degree of cosmetic involvement
from Livnehs Origins of Negative Attitudes
13 Personality variables
associated with
stigma
Self-concept
Body image
Anxiety
Intelligence
14
15 Fear: DAngerous
Social groups sometimes interpret the anomalous as dangerous
Think of examples in the media or in literature
Bodies that are out of control seem dangerous to us
In fact, often the people in danger are those with disabilities!
Bodies that are out of control seem dangerous to us
In fact, often the people in danger are those with disabilities!
We look for order because it makes predictability possible, and we seek predictability to avoid danger in an
essentially perilous world (Murphy, p. 33, ch. 1).
15
Fear: feeling
vulnerable
The disabled serve as constant, visible reminders to the able-bodied that the society they live in is shot through with
inequity and suffering, that they live in a counterfeit paradise, that they too are vulnerable. We represent a fearsome
possibility (p. 117, Ch. 5).
16 Fear: make
assumptions
Power of a different or even deviant characteristic to overwhelm all of the persons other characteristics, especially
positive ones.
16
Power of a single characteristic to evoke inferences (assumptions) about a person is called the spread effect!
17 Fear: Result of sin?
Social groups sometimes correlate sin with disability
If something bad happens to someone, then there must be some reason, such as divine justice.
18 John 9: 1-3; 34
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned? This man or his parents,
that he was born blind?
3Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this hapened so that the work of God might be displayed in
his life.
If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. (spoken by man who was blind)
You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us! (Pharisees)
John 9: 35-38
:Jesus had heard that they (Pharisees) had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, Do you believe in the Son
of Man?
Who is he, sir? the man asked. Tell me so that I may believe in him.
Jesus said, You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.
Then the man said, Lord, I believe, and he worshipped him.
19 Fear: social
confrontations
19 Fear: social
confrontations
One of my earliest observations was that social relations between the disabled and the able-bodied are tense, awkward
and problematic (Murphy 86-Chapter 4).
Any social confrontation of people in which there is some great flawrobs the encounter of firm cultural guidelines,
traumatizing it and leaving the people involved wholly uncertain about what to expect from each other (Murphy 87-
Chapter 4).
So pronounced and widespread is the aversion of the eyes(Murphy 119). Called Pattern of Avoidance (Chapter. 5).
A disabled person could enter my field of vision, but my mind would fail to register him-a kind of selective blindness
quite common among people of our culture (p. 86-Ch. 4).
20 Tips for interactions
Dont assume what the person can or cannot do
Ask the person to repeat info if you dont understand
Dont lean on a persons wheelchair
When offering assistance, ask first
Treat adults like adults-use last name unless given permission to use first name
Speak directly to the person with a disability rather than through a companion
Dont be shy about shaking hands
21 Anonymous
Blessed are you who take time to listen to difficult speech, for you help us persevere until we are understood.
21
Blessed are you who walk with us in public spaces and ignore the stare of strangers, for we find havens of relaxation in
your companionship.
21
Blessed are you who never bid us to hurry up, and more blessed are you who do not snatch our tasks from our hands,
for often we need time-rather than help.
21
Blessed are you who stand beside us as we enter new and untried ventures, for the delight we feel when we surprise
you outweights all the frustrating failures.
21
Blessed are you who ask for our help, for our greatest need is to be needed.
21
21
Found in Receiving the Gift of Friendship by Reinders
21
21
21
22 Fear: Remove!
Social groups sometimes cope by ejecting or removing the anomalous element
Out of sight, out of mind mentality
Brief history of segregation
Early Greeks
Middle Ages
Early Greeks
Middle Ages
23 changing attitudes
in the U.S.
World wars
FDR
Polio epidemic
Segregation of people with intellectual and emotional disorders
24 Fear: Eliminate!
Social groups try to eliminate or extinguish the anomalous element
Eugenics=a science that deals with the improvement of hereditary qualities of a race or breed. Merriam-Webster
dictionary
24
Historic examples
24
Nazi Germany
24
Abortions for genetic defects
24
Withholding treatment
24
Gender selection
24
Marriage laws
24
Forced sterilization laws
24
Other examples of eugenics in America today?
25 From the book
Living Gently in a
violent world
We develop policies and practices that welcome people with disabilities into our communities, offering them rights and
responsibilities, and at precisely the same time we develop forms of genetic technology designed to prevent them from
entering society in the first place (Hauerwas & Vanier, p. 11).
26
27 A Cure for down
syndrome?
28 Influence of Cultural
Norms
Sociocultural conditioning regarding the body beautiful
Childhood influences
Emphasis on personal achievement
29 Video Clips
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GFuy6wsZaw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4foXehDmWs
29 Video Clips
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GFuy6wsZaw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4foXehDmWs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVN9-f4obcI