Ableism

What is ableism? According to the Oxford Dictionary, ableism is the “unfair treatment of or negative attitudes towards disabled people.” Ableism is similar to racism and sexism in the way that those who are ableists view people with disabilities as subordinate. This can result in discrimination and social prejudice toward those with disabilities.

There are many factors that contribute to ableism. One factor is social and cultural conditioning which depends on what our society considers “normal.” The majority of people aren’t disabled so our society views those who are disabled as “different” or “weird.” This can lead to hierarchical attitudes toward those with disabilities where some disabilities are viewed as more acceptable than others. For example, in our society, physical disabilities are more justifiable than mental disabilities, which are often disregarded. So, ableism affects people differently depending on how others perceive their disability. Another factor that contributes to ableism is the personalities of different people. Some people may be more positive towards disabilities than others just because of their personality. Lastly, offensive moral beliefs about disabilities also contribute to ableism. Some of these beliefs are outdated but still persist in our society today. For example, some believe that when an individual has a disability, it is because they are being punished by God.

There are many different types of ableism because it exists on different levels of society. The largest scale at which ableism exists is at the institutional level. As the name implies, this form affects institutions. Institutional ableism can be found in laws, policies, regulations, practices, and an institution’s social and cultural norms. An example of institutional ableism is physical barriers for people with disabilities. This would mean buildings without ramps or elevators which make the lives of people in wheelchairs difficult. Another type of ableism is at the interpersonal level. This includes the ableism that occurs in the social interactions and relationships we have with others. This type of ableism is very common in our society and many people may do this without even realizing the harmful effects. One example of this is questioning whether a person’s disability is real. This undermines the large impact that disabilities have on people. Another example is asking someone with a disability what is “wrong” with them. This implies that having a disability is a bad thing that someone should be ashamed of. The last type of ableism is at the internal level. This is when a person with a disability is so heavily influenced by the stereotypes, misconceptions, and discrimination they face from those without disabilities, that those with disabilities start believing the harmful words of others. For example, a person may feel that the disability accommodations available to them are a privilege, instead of a basic human right.

There are also different forms of ableism. One form is hostile ableism which includes openly being aggressive toward those with disabilities. This could mean bullying, abuse, and violence. Another form of ableism is benevolent ableism. This means patronizing and undermining those with disabilities. This form of ableism views people with disabilities as weak and vulnerable. In other words, people with disabilities are in need of sympathy and help from others. The last form of ableism is ambivalent ableism. This form combines hostile and benevolent ableism. For example, an individual may try to help a disabled person but when the disabled person refuses help, the individual may become hostile.

Ableism impacts many people in different ways. One way is that ableism can lead to unemployment because in some cases, jobs are ablest. For example, they might not want to hire someone in a wheelchair because of the costs of building accommodations. This can result in a lower average income as well as poverty. Ableism also reduces access to transportation and education for people with disabilities. For example, people who are in wheelchairs might not be able to ride some buses because they wouldn’t have a way to enter or exit them. Another example is that in schools, children with disabilities might have a harder time learning. In some cases, teachers might not provide them with the right accommodations to actually help them learn. Ableism also fuels bullying, harassment, and violence which can lead to depression, anxiety, and stress.

Although there are many initiatives to help educate everyone about ableism, it all comes down to the beliefs and actions of individuals. So, it’s important to learn how to interact appropriately with people who have a disability, help make your community more accessible for those with disabilities, and speak up when you see ableism occurring.