changes in public attitudes and behaviours disabled people leading change

Changes in public attitudes and behaviours

Disabled People Leading Change

Generational shifts in attitude


We are witnessing huge generational shifts in attitudes – on some areas of equality and justice. Ipsos Mori found Generation Y (born 1980 onwards) are far less likely than older groups to:

•Agree ‘that a husband’s job is to earn money; a wife’s job is to look after the home and family’

•Agree that same sex relationships between adults are always wrong

•Mind if a suitable qualified person of Black or West Indian origin was appointed as their boss

But on disability it’s complex

British Social Attitudes (Staniland 2011) found on some measures attitudes towards disabled people improved 2005-9 e.g. the public became less likely to see disabled people as ‘getting in the way’

BUT young people were less likely than older groups to be comfortable with the idea of having a disabled person as a boss


it’s complex (continued)

48% 18-24 year olds would be comfortable if boss had physical impairment (63% of 45-54 year olds)

40% 18-24 year olds comfortable if boss had sensory impairment (56% 45-54 year olds)

18% 18-24 year olds comfortable if boss had learning disability (21% 45-54 year olds)

8% 18-24 year olds comfortable if boss had mental health condition (15% 45-54 year olds)


The closer you get…..

The public reports less and less ‘comfort’ as the relationship with a disabled person gets closer – from being part of a quiz team or moving in next door (relatively OK), to marrying a relative or friend (less OK)

Public support for the welfare state and benefits spending has declined in the last 20 years. ‘In much public discourse the welfare state, once a towering achievement of the post-Beveridge generation, has become a byword for social breakdown, irresponsibility and mistrust within communities’ (British Social Attitudes 2013)


And behaviour?

EHRC 2015 finds disabled people are more likely to report discrimination, harassment and abuse than non-disabled people

More likely to report harassment at work

More likely to report bullying at school


What changes attitudes and behaviour?

You don’t always have to change attitudes first, to change behaviour: some people stopped smoking because it was banned in so many places (behaviour changed first)

So – we could aim to stop bullying and hostility. Equip teachers, police and others to take action. Create safe spaces where disabled people can get support to report and stop hostility


The power of contact

Contact – being together on common goals, getting to know each other – changes attitude and behaviour more than any information campaign. Hewstone found German non-Jewish children who played with Jewish children were later 12 times more likely to help Jewish adults

So - campaigns for inclusive education, inclusive communities, inclusive workplaces, more disabled leaders and bosses – could transform attitudes


Change the narrative

From ‘burdens’, ‘scroungers’ or ‘service users’ to contributors – where every type of contribution is valued

From ‘welfare’ that ‘looks after’ people – to investment in independent living and participation

From difference being a mark of difficulty – to difference being essential to a good society e.g. people who think differently generate new ideas; people who go through major life experiences build empathy, resilience


Make the narrative mainstream

“We want greater powers to be seen, to vote, to be included, have the same opportunities in social life, education and employment as everyone else” (Gary Bourlet)

Liz Carr: disabled people in soaps and who dunnits

We need more and more diverse voices of disabled people


Ways forward

What could we do together that would make most difference?

Who should act?


changes in public attitudes and behaviours disabled people leading change

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