10/9/2018 The Stigma Behind Disability: The Past and Current Misconceptions Surrounding Disabilities and the DisabledRead Now Since the dawn of civilization, it appears that disability has been surrounded by misconception, and judgement. This misguided viewpoint has been so ever-present in history, that it can even be traced all the way back to the Ancient Greeks. According to research, among the Greeks, the sick and deformed were considered “inferior” as opposed to those of healthy mind and body. This discrimination went so far that Plato himself recommended that the deformed offspring of both the superior and inferior be put away in some "mysterious and unknown places". This mindset continued on for centuries, spanning into the 16th century, where certain religious figures such as Luther and John Calvin viewed the disabled as being possessed, or cursed by evil spirits. It was due to this ill-informed perception that many disabled people were subjected to great shame, and even physical pain, from those claiming to “cure” them.
In our modern society and culture, we have a far better understanding of mental and physical disabilities than those before us ever did. However, despite our vast and ever-growing understanding of disabilities, many are still misguided by stigma and misconception. The stigma around disability takes many forms, and varies depending on the geographical location and culture of which the disabled person lives within. While first world countries have a better understanding of disabilities, many third world countries are still plagued by a lack of knowledge and understanding in regards to those who are disabled. This is due to a combination of being ill-equipped of the resources that make this knowledge so accessible to other parts of the world, as well as cultural viewpoints that began centuries ago. Some cultures view disability, not as a medical or mental condition, but rather as a “curse”, upon a family for wrong doing. This viewpoint can make treatment for those in these countries not only difficult, but sometimes even impossible. Thankfully, in first world countries we have not only a modern culture that no longer views these conditions as punishments, but we also have the access to knowledge that can help unlock and explain disability. Within our modern societies, we no longer see such blatant discrimination or mistreatment due to disability rights laws, that protect those who need it. However, even within such modern and developed societies, we can still witness stigma. These stigmas can create hostile working/educational environments, bullying, discrimination, and can mentally and emotionally harm those who are disabled. We also see another form of stigma surrounding disability. This stigma has been bred by such empathy towards those with disabilities, that many now view the disabled as people to be pitied, rather than empowered. Too many people within modern society view the 36 million disabled people within our country as childlike, helpless, hopeless, non-functioning, and non-contributing members of society. The consistent and constant stigma that all disabled people are “childlike” and incapable members of society is harmful to not only disabled individuals, but to society as a whole. It is due to our own inability to accept that they are still equal to us, that we lose out on the talents and skills offered by so many disabled citizens. This stigma begins as early as they are born and lasts sadly far past their deaths. They are often viewed as a number or statistic rather than as an individual. Those who are disabled are still citizens who can help shape the future of our society and workforce, if properly cared for and equipped for independence. Constant pity and misconception makes it so that many disabled children and adults do not even know they are capable of living an independent and fruitful life; rather, they are force fed this ideal that they are stuck in a helpless cycle of childhood. We as a society need to leave behind all the misconceptions around disability, and instead reach toward better knowledge and understanding of it. We also need to abandon this pity mindset, and instead work to empower and equip those who are disabled. May we as a society always remember that disability does not equal inability. Article Written by Elizabeth Stennett Sources: -Theirworld -The Guardian -Disability Studies Quarterly -The New York Times -https://oss.adm.ntu.edu.sg/atoh003/social-stigma-faced-by-people-with-disabilities/ Comments are closed.
|