By s.e. smith on 6 July, 2010
Ableist Word Profile is an ongoing FWD/Forward series in which we explore ableism and the way it manifests in language usage. Here’s what this series is about: Examining word origins, the way in which ableism is unconsciously reinforced, the power that language has. Here’s what this series is not about: Telling people which words they [...]
Posted in 101, Ableist Word Profile, identity, language | Tagged ableism, disability euphemisms, special, special needs
By Anna on 18 June, 2010
People with disabilities/the disabled are not a collective group that all agree on anything. Asking what “the disabled” want or “the disabled” are doing is exactly like asking what “women” want and what “women” are doing. Women are individuals. Some of them are women with disabilities! We don’t all want the same things, but grouping everyone under the same umbrella, as though we are a Collective rather than Individuals With Opinions and Needs is… well, it’s pretty damned ableist, as well as being arrogant, ignorant, and irritating.
Posted in Ableist Word Profile, anna rants, i'm right here, identity, media and pop culture, normality, othering, representations
By abby jean on 28 May, 2010
Ableist Word Profile is an ongoing FWD/Forward series in which we explore ableism and the way it manifests in language usage. Here’s what this series is about: Examining word origins, the way in which ableism is unconsciously reinforced, the power that language has. Here’s what this series is not about: Telling people which words they [...]
Posted in Ableist Word Profile, blaming, justice, language, mental health, news, policy, politics, representations, shaming, social attitudes | Tagged abby rants
By Anna on 25 May, 2010
I get why people talk about language, and I agree that language is important. But I’m not giving cookies out for publicly declaring your ally-status by saying you won’t (or will try not to) use ableist language anymore. That’s a great first step. Now move on.
Posted in Ableist Word Profile, intersectionality, language, social attitudes
By Anna on 24 May, 2010
When someone writes something like “Wow, those anti-immigrant people are r#tarded idiots!” [I made this example up] or giggles about seeing Dick Cheney “wheelchair bound” because “it couldn’t happen to a more deserving person!” [I did not make this example up], I bring up the ableism, and my activity in the disability rights movement, as a way of reminding them that we’re here. We’re reading. We’re participating. And it’s more than a little-bit alienating to see social justice bloggers using our experiences and oppressions as their go-to for “insulting people we don’t agree with”.
Posted in Ableist Word Profile, intersectionality, language, social attitudes
By Guest on 17 May, 2010
Like every ism, ableism is absorbed through the culture on a more subconscious level, embedding itself in our language like a guerrilla force. Crazy is one of the most versatile and frequently used slurs, a
word used sometimes directly against persons with mental disabilities (PWMD), sometimes indirectly against persons with able privilege, sometimes descriptive and value-neutral, and sometimes in a superficially positive light.
Posted in Ableist Word Profile, guest post, language, mental health, social attitudes
By s.e. smith on 1 January, 2010
Ableist Word Profile is an ongoing FWD/Forward series in which we explore ableism and the way it manifests in language usage. Here’s what this series is about: Examining word origins, the way in which ableism is unconsciously reinforced, the power that language has. Here’s what this series is not about: Telling people which words they [...]
Posted in 101, Ableist Word Profile, language | Tagged idiot, imbecile, language, moron, word use, words mean things
By s.e. smith on 4 December, 2009
Ableist Word Profile is an ongoing FWD/Forward series in which we explore ableism and the way it manifests in language usage. Here’s what this series is about: Examining word origins, the way in which ableism is unconsciously reinforced, the power that language has. Here’s what this series is not about: Telling people which words they [...]
Posted in 101, Ableist Word Profile, language | Tagged spak, spakking out, spaz, spazzing out, word use, words mean things
By s.e. smith on 19 November, 2009
The Ableist Word Profile has a new introduction: Ableist Word Profile is an ongoing FWD/Forward series in which we explore ableism and the way it manifests in language usage. Here’s what this series is about: Examining word origins, the way in which ableism is unconsciously reinforced, the power that language has. Here’s what this series [...]
Posted in Ableist Word Profile, language, social attitudes | Tagged word use, words mean things
By Anna on 18 November, 2009
I considered making this entire post “People don’t like being told they’re wheelchair bound. Stop doing it. Try ‘wheelchair user’ instead. Thank you.”
Then I remembered how often that argument is rejected.
Posted in 101, Ableist Word Profile, bodies, language, social attitudes | Tagged ableism, language, wheelchair, wheelchair bound, wheelchair user
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