Analysis of disability as a social construct Essay Assignment Paper

Assignment: Analysis of disability as a social construct

RESPONSE 1

Respond to at least two colleagues by supporting or refuting your colleagues’ analysis of disability as a social construct or your colleagues’ analysis of the intersectionalities in the Parker case and how they marginalize and impact Stephanie. Please use at least one reference per colleague to support your answer.

Colleague 1: Y

There are a range of views on disability, from diagnostic models which have internal focuses for disability, to social construct models that focus on the external environment as well.

This internal focus results in an interpretation of the disabled individual as defective with reference to normative physical, behavioral, psychological, cognitive, or sensory being. The interactive, person-in-environment lens, on the other hand, looks at the interaction of internal and external factors in an individual’s life that creates a disabling condition (Gilson & DePoy, 2002, p. 154).

Therefore, viewing disability through a diagnostic model “others” disabled individuals by saying they are inherently non-functional and deviant, whereas viewing disability through a person-in-environment/social construction model examines the ways in which external forces create or contribute to a person’s inability to function in society (Gilson & DePoy, 2002). Leaning on the disability as socially constructed models, Gilson and DePoy (2002), define disability as “the inter-play of diverse human conditions with environmental barriers to full community inclusion” (p. 153); this definition acknowledges both the realities of limiting physical and mental conditions as well as the environmental and social conditions that can exacerbate them. As Susan Wendell (2013) explains, the world is built and structured around a young, energetic male archetype; thus, what is considered “normal” actually excludes large numbers of people. In addition, the world’s pace is increasing, and those who cannot keep up with that pace, or who need assistance to do so, are considered disabled, whereas previously they would not have been (Wendell, 2013).

In this week’s video, Stephanie Parker is talking with her worker about the guilt she feels surrounding wanting to take care of her mother but also wanting to live her on her own, clutter and argument-free (Laureate, 2013). Here, Stephanie’s disability, bipolar disorder, is being made much worse by her environment, and her identities as a single woman who is coping with bipolar disorder conflict with her identity as a caring daughter. The stress of her environment has led Stephanie to be hospitalized several times, a situation which can further marginalize her by interfering with employment or making her endure the stereotypes and fears of others who are uninformed about mental illness should they find out. In addition to the potential isolation mental illness can cause, Stephanie also stands to be marginalized and isolated from peers her age due to her role as caretaker for her mother. So while Stephanie may have a disability, her environment is not only making her disability worse, it is disabling in itself. Feeling guilty about the conflict caused by the intersection of her identities is causing Stephanie to have trouble making decisions about what she should do and determining what she really wants and needs. However, in order to be an active participant in her life and determine its course, she will need to do both those things.

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