Ableism

[magic_doors]

There has been a lot of talk on my flist over the last few days about ableist slurring concerning both mental and physical disability. Much of it has been useful and educational, but some of it does seem a bit dramatic, to me at least; I am someone who was throwing around the word 'retard' casually until very recently, and was genuinely shocked

Comments

[highfantastical]

I think it's something where everyone really has to set her/his own line. Which obv. may change over time. I don't think it's easy/possible for there to be some objective standard which decides whether something is an ableist term or not, it 's too dependent on context and so on. There are a few words that I think are really offensive (the r-word is a prime example), but a much, much bigger middle ground where it's hazy. Because while I would be very uncomfortable with a temporarily able-bodied person insisting that a term wasn't ableist, if a PWD said it was, it would be equally squicky for someone to say OMG 'BLIND' IS SO OFFENSIVE, WHY ARE YOU NOT ANGRY, LIZZIE'S DAD

[highfantastical]

(ALSO, I think one can profitably draw an analogy with feminism, without being oppression olympics-y. IMO, ableist language issues are similar to the wildly variant positions in feminism about words like "bitch" and "cunt" -- some people use them casually and aren't bothered, some are deeply offended and hurt, some seek to reclaim them. There is no definitive position.)

[magic_doors]

To me, 'moron' does not imply a mentally handicapped person, any more than than 'idiot' does. Interestingly, I would never apply the word 'retard' to a disabled person, though i might say they were 'retarded'. Hmmm. I think this is like what Chloe was saying about attitudes being more important than the actual words.

I have never heard 'idiot' used as a technical term for IQ. If I remember rightly, it derives from a Greek word for a person who does not participate in the public life of the polis. JON WHERE ARE YOU.

For me personally, like 'idiot', a lot of words people have been objecting to have passed out of that meaning and into ordainary derogatory language; moron, retard, spaz (but not spastic). Hell, I went through a phase or referring to anyone I didn't like as 'a gaytard'.

[liminereid]

I have to admit it stumps me too. I've had discussion before about describing politicians as shortsighted . I can't see much past the end of my nose sans glasses, I couldn't do anything much without corrective aids or surgery and they are worsening year on year but shortsighted is a perfectly adequate metaphor too.

I also personally struggle with a lot of the 'mad' 'crazy' 'nutter' ones as well. i try to avoid using them around people who have stated it causes them offense but I'm just not sure myself

[magic_doors]

Yeah - I can see why pople see (hah!) them differently, but it's the same sort of association.