ableism - the problematics of understanding

8/19/2019 Ableism - The problematics of understanding

1/3

Geiger Bianka

DME BA 2.

Cultural Studies

Ableism

The problematics of understanding

Disability is man!sided term. "t is used if somebod has conce#uence of an impairment

$hich means problem %or problems& in bod function. The disorder can be phsical' mental or

emotional' but first of all it in(ol(es man circumstances $hich can cause acti(it limitations

or social ine#ualities. )e re(eal if that $ould be a $ide and simple categor' but this is not

the right $a. Being disabled is not a problem but a ne$ factor in normalit $e ha(e to speak

about.

A long time ago disabled people $ere sub*ect of mocking attitude. There $as a midget as a

*ester in e(er roal court $ho had to entertain the public $ith his or her +$eirdness,. -ater

freak sho$s $ere tra(elling all o(er the $orld $here curious locals could be amused and

horrified at the same time in charge of their mone. The could see man different' unusual

caracters from bearded $omen to siamese t$ins' and the main point of their interest $ere the

otherness from the ordinar the got used to. The did not $ant to understand them or gi(e a

hand' but compared them to spectacle or animals $hose life $as not $orth anthing. This

method ga(e a big space to appearing stereotpes.

o$adas care of people $ith an kind of disorders is sensiti(e #uestion. Man of us $ant to

help them but do not kno$ ho$ to do that. Being *udgmental as $ell as being regretful can

make damages' that/s $h finding the golden mean is (er urgent. So $hat could be

highlighted0 1irst' disabilit is not an illness. "t is a feature or a parameter' but not a disease

$hich means unhealthiness and should be cured because it threatens the funcitons of life.Although an indi(idual is blind or has to use a $heelchair or has Do$n!sndrome' heshe can

li(e a $hole life $ithout borders. +Border, is a ke $ord. "n German there is a la$ since

2332 $hich deal $ith this problem. Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz %BGG& can be translated

into +la$ for e#ualit of people $ith disabilit, and it assure for e4ample accessibilit to

transport and prohibition of discrimination to them. -iterall borders are made b us' people

$ithout impairment. )e build stairs' $e determine the categories' $e $ant to be +normal

people, and treat them as the $eaker.


2/3

Geiger Bianka

DME BA 2.

Cultural Studies

Conse#uentl comes the second thing5 it is hard to choose bet$een integration and

segregation' $hether could be better' emphasi6ing or making a(erage0 "n the ne$est

discussions the often declare that +the are not special,. This statement includes fear in the

background. "n a certain sense +special, can mean identification $ith an alien' $ith something

$hich is out of borders of our planet. This is essential5 the are not a thing but a human $ith

their o$n personalit. But the media sho$s slightl irrele(ant image' if $e talk about e#ualit.

"t happens often that the can be succesful or $ell!kno$n +*ust, because of their disabilit.

The ne$est case is Maddy Stuart /s. She is an 78!ear!old girl $ith Do$n! sndrome. After

she had lost 23 kg' she became a model. Although this is a succesful stor of course' it

suggests that the most important thing is being accepted for the appearance' the inner does not

matter' and she got fame because she is a prett AD disabled girl. 9er disorder sells her' if "ma be a bit rough.

:ther e4ample is Viktoria Modesta' a lat(ian singer %she $as sho$n during the course b

Ale4andra' but " think it is rele(ant mentioning her&. As the ne$s said' +she has become

kno$n for challenging the modern perception of altered beaut,. Although she is singer' not

her music is the emphasi6ed characteristic feature. "f an a(erage person sees a disabled artist

for e4ample in a competition or a talent contest' his or her first feeling is sorr' second is

pride. 9ere the t$o are connected inherentl. 1eeling sorr for ha(ing a harder life %or assume

that& and being proud for fighting against +cruel e(erdas, and gaining po$er. Teca Krizbai

had appeared first in 2377 at Csillag S6;letik talent sho$' as a singer and pianist. She

impressed the *ur and $as good enough to continue the contest' but later the media referred

to her as the +blind little girl' $ho can sing,.

As $e can see the right solution is (er problematic. There are not concrete definitions neither

categories in societ.


3/3

Geiger Bianka

DME BA 2.

Cultural Studies

Source:

-a$ for the e#ualit of disabled in German5

http5$$$.behindertenbeauftragte.deDEThemen>echtlicheGrundlagenBehindertengleichs

tellungsgeset6Behindertengleichstellungsgeset6?node.html

Madd Stuart5

http5$$$.dailmail.co.ukne$sarticle!@38783"f!people!beaut!inside!models!$orld!

sndrome!Meet!inspiring!oung!$oman!genetic!condition!determined!change!face!

beaut.html

iktoria Modesta5

http5coilhouse.net23383$hat!does!alt!model!e(en!mean
http://www.behindertenbeauftragte.de/DE/Themen/RechtlicheGrundlagen/Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz/Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz_node.htmlhttp://www.behindertenbeauftragte.de/DE/Themen/RechtlicheGrundlagen/Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz/Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz_node.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3081890/If-people-beauty-inside-models-world-syndrome-Meet-inspiring-young-woman-genetic-condition-determined-change-face-beauty.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3081890/If-people-beauty-inside-models-world-syndrome-Meet-inspiring-young-woman-genetic-condition-determined-change-face-beauty.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3081890/If-people-beauty-inside-models-world-syndrome-Meet-inspiring-young-woman-genetic-condition-determined-change-face-beauty.htmlhttp://coilhouse.net/2008/06/what-does-alt-model-even-mean/http://www.behindertenbeauftragte.de/DE/Themen/RechtlicheGrundlagen/Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz/Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz_node.htmlhttp://www.behindertenbeauftragte.de/DE/Themen/RechtlicheGrundlagen/Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz/Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz_node.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3081890/If-people-beauty-inside-models-world-syndrome-Meet-inspiring-young-woman-genetic-condition-determined-change-face-beauty.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3081890/If-people-beauty-inside-models-world-syndrome-Meet-inspiring-young-woman-genetic-condition-determined-change-face-beauty.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3081890/If-people-beauty-inside-models-world-syndrome-Meet-inspiring-young-woman-genetic-condition-determined-change-face-beauty.htmlhttp://coilhouse.net/2008/06/what-does-alt-model-even-mean/

ableism - the problematics of understanding

Documents