The Tyranny of the Majority- Disability Politics

 Rebekah Taussig, academic and writer, is challenging me at the moment as I listen to her autobiography entitled 'Sitting Pretty'.

The ranking that occurs in all societies without thought has been shown to be detected by children from the age of three.

Gender, race and sexuality are well known to be affected by rank.   Disability is  an interesting one.  Erin Clark, disabled pole dancer and activist was asked if she would go forward for operations to 'cure' her disabilities, if this were to be offered.  Taussig does not give her reply but I imagine that she would have said 'yes' and 'no'.  Disability involves many hardships, but most are from society.  Most people experience some physical discomfort in daily life, but injustice can be harder to bear..

It can be argued that the advent of cochlea implants the deaf community has a significant 'down side'.  More children are deliberately kept form signing, and often choose to come to signing as teenagers.  As lip readers, they are always on the back foot, except when they in night clubs, where others choose to be disabled for once.

Taussig explains about how her students come to her class with the ingrained concept of disability as a problem, and part of  the 'other'.  They believe in the entitlement of able-bodied people to take centre stage in society.  It reminded me that this is similar to the status given to foreigners who are expected to speak English in the UK (though the rule does not apply the other ways round).  Disabled people should be grateful for everything they get for 'free', and certainly not complain.     

The irony of disability is that most people are likely to experience disability, to a greater or lesser extent.  For the young it's perhaps easier to see that 'beautiful body' equals entitlement to the best at the table.  Defective body means you have missed out, or take the left overs.  Bad luck.  As Taussig points out, disability is seen as failure, sexually, politically and morally (you are not contributing financially to society).  

I am interested in the process needed to recognise and address this perception.  I agree that it is analogous to  institutionalised racism, sexism and homophobia.  It is subconsciously believed by society, and requires illumination.  

An example:

My disabled daughter has just left a rented flat with two other able bodied flat mates.  They were charged £50 each for damages to the flat when they left.  My daughter was charged £150.  When she moved in the landlord said don't worry about scratches on the wall made by your wheelchair.  I wanted to challenge the fee, but my daughter said don't bother.  It's exhausting having to fight and challenge all day long, just let it go.  She saw it as a minor injustice compared to the many others she deals with on a daily basis.