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capri0mniContext: Yesterday, in reporting on the story of Jenny Hatch, Dave Hingsburger pointed out that people with disabilities are the only ones who have scientists with clipboards collecting data on them to prove, scientifically, that freedom is better than captivity.
...There was a lot of push-back against that. Generally along the lines of: "But lots of people still have to fight for freedom, and human rights!"
In today's post, he defended his statement, and the point that talking about what is unique about the discrimination different minorities face is valid, and does not mean that we're trying to outdo each other.
This is the reply I was prompted to make, and I thought folks here would be interested in reading it:
[Begin quote]
From my experience (as someone with a congenital disabling condition), I've come to the conclusion that the discrimination disabled folk face is psychologically and socially difficult in two unique ways:
1) More often then not, we're minorities within our own families, so we often experience oppression from those who should be protecting us from it (the stories of Eve and Jenny both illustrate this).
2) And, unlike gay and transgender people, who are also often isolated within their families (and therefore, are subject to cruelty and injustice, as well), very few people with disabilities are able to "pass" as either able-bodied or neurotypical for the sake of their own safety.
Even if a disabled kid is lucky, like I was, and wins the "supportive parents" lottery, being alone in your family means sometimes going without the emotional and practical support you need. My mother was fantastic with helping me deal with sexism, because she'd had experience with that herself, and had figured out ways to get through it. But if I came home from school complaining about how the newly-waxed hallways made it hard to get to class on my crutches (for example), she was at a loss.
And, while this wasn't always the case (and was, itself, the result of hard-won battles for social justice), it's now recognized that children in racial, ethnic, and religious minorities need some contact with adult role models from their own minority to help them grow and learn. I've yet to see that same recognition for children with disabilities.
[end quote]
...There was a lot of push-back against that. Generally along the lines of: "But lots of people still have to fight for freedom, and human rights!"
In today's post, he defended his statement, and the point that talking about what is unique about the discrimination different minorities face is valid, and does not mean that we're trying to outdo each other.
This is the reply I was prompted to make, and I thought folks here would be interested in reading it:
[Begin quote]
From my experience (as someone with a congenital disabling condition), I've come to the conclusion that the discrimination disabled folk face is psychologically and socially difficult in two unique ways:
1) More often then not, we're minorities within our own families, so we often experience oppression from those who should be protecting us from it (the stories of Eve and Jenny both illustrate this).
2) And, unlike gay and transgender people, who are also often isolated within their families (and therefore, are subject to cruelty and injustice, as well), very few people with disabilities are able to "pass" as either able-bodied or neurotypical for the sake of their own safety.
Even if a disabled kid is lucky, like I was, and wins the "supportive parents" lottery, being alone in your family means sometimes going without the emotional and practical support you need. My mother was fantastic with helping me deal with sexism, because she'd had experience with that herself, and had figured out ways to get through it. But if I came home from school complaining about how the newly-waxed hallways made it hard to get to class on my crutches (for example), she was at a loss.
And, while this wasn't always the case (and was, itself, the result of hard-won battles for social justice), it's now recognized that children in racial, ethnic, and religious minorities need some contact with adult role models from their own minority to help them grow and learn. I've yet to see that same recognition for children with disabilities.
[end quote]
no subject
Date: 2013-08-09 12:47 am (UTC)As you recognize, there are a variety of people who can experience the abandonment and danger that comes with being isolated in their own families. In addition to people with disabilities, this experience is common for LGBT people and transracial adoptees.
I've been pondering "passing" for the past few months, so this may be my muddle waddling in to your discourse: in (2) are you proposing passing as a way to insulate oneself from family cruelty? Again, this is an issue for transracial adoptees.
I still wonder at the urge to claim uniqueness. Humans come in so many fits and finishes, chances are good there will be overlap somewhere. I want to respect all the various experiences which people bring to a night at the con, or a town meeting, or the Presidency. There are so many under-represented groups who "get it" when it comes to being stared at -- something I know you and I encounter for one shared reason (visible assistive technology) and one that's yours alone (atypical muscle tone). My hunch is communication is built on a balance: respect plus recognition of the experiences we share.
no subject
Date: 2013-08-09 04:39 am (UTC)Children with disabilities are, statistically, 50% more likely to suffer physical abuse at the hands of their families than able-bodied kids, because a) they are often blamed for whatever extra stress the family is experiencing, and b) they are less likely to be able to defend themselves.
...
Although "unique," is, by definition, an absolute, in reality, it's more of a spectrum -- like nearly everything else in the real world. Each individual way we experience bigotry is unique in some way, and all of us experience common feelings of exclusion as well.
But Ableism is different from racism, which is different from sexism, is different from homophobia. Giving space to each helps us battle it all.