Category Archives: Invited speaker

Psycho-emotional disablism and the ‘dys-appearing’ body: Implications for the disability/impairment divide (keynote, 2011)

Reeve, D. (2011) ‘Psycho-emotional disablism and the ‘dys-appearing’ body: Implications for the disability/impairment divide’, paper presented at Theorizing Normalcy and the Mundane (2nd international conference), Manchester Metropolitan University, 14-15 September (keynote).

Abstract

The social model of disability has been criticised for maintaining an artificial separation of the impaired body from socially constructed disability. Whilst politically this has been very useful in helping the disabled people’s movement recognise and challenge forms of social oppression experienced by people with impairments, this dichotomy fails to recognise the ‘carnal politics of everyday life’ (Paterson and Hughes, 1999). Drawing on phenomenological concepts, these authors showed that when people with impairments experience disabling barriers such as patronising behaviour, then the impaired body is brought into focus, ‘dys-appearing’ because of its perceived ‘abnormality’.

It is clear that the experience of psycho-emotional disablism (Thomas, 2007) which arises from disablist attitudes and behaviours at the interpersonal level, is closely related to Paterson and Hughes’ account of the ‘dys-appearing’ body. Therefore, one aim of this paper is to examine what the concept of social dys-appearance can bring to an analysis of different forms of psycho-emotional disablism. I will show that this provides a useful deconstruction of internalised oppression, identifying the difference between ‘false consciousness’ and ‘double consciousness’. I then extend the analysis to the experiences of ‘passing’ and creating oneself as the ‘disabled subject’ when applying for disability benefits.

These examples show that psycho-emotional disablism is embodied, which in turn has implications for discussions about the impairment/disability divide. Rather than ignoring impairment (social model) or suggesting that impairment is socially constructed, instead I will suggest that when considering psycho-emotional disablism, it is necessary to take account of impairment as part of the analysis of disablism. Bodies do matter; impaired bodies are not all considered equally in the cultural psyche. Therefore it could be predicted that prejudice (which leads to psycho-disablism) is mediated by perceived impairment – that psycho-emotional disablism can take different forms depending on what is known/visible to the other (non) disabled person.

From geek to theory chick: Developing understanding(s) of psycho-emotional disablism (keynote, 2011)

Reeve, D. (2011) ‘From geek to theory chick: Developing understanding(s) of psycho-emotional disablism’, paper presented at Postgraduate disability research: A critical space to engage, Warwick University, 13 July (keynote).

Abstract

In this paper I reflect on the intellectual journey taken during the time I
studied for my PhD – complete with missed turnings and numerous
mechanical breakdowns. I then discuss the impact that several different
theorists have had on the way in which I have explored the concept of psychoemotional
disablism, showing the rich insights which interdisciplinary thinking
can bring. Finally I end by identifying some of the questions which face those
of us in critical disability studies if our work is to remain relevant to the
everyday lives of disabled people.

Psycho-emotional disablism and acts of (mis)recognition: Implications for professional practice (keynote, 2009)

Reeve, D. (2009) ‘Psycho-emotional disablism and acts of (mis)recognition: Implications for professional practice’, paper presented at 4th Cornwall Disability Research Network, Cornwall College, 29 October (keynote).

This key note was an extended version of the earlier NNDR paper. The academic giving the keynote was taken seriously ill and so I was asked to step in at short notice to deliver a paper that would be meaningful to the undergraduate students studying various vocational degrees in the health professions.

What can Agamben’s Homo Sacer offer to an analysis of contemporary psycho-emotional disablism (seminar, 2009)

Reeve, D. (2009) ‘What can Agamben’s Homo Sacer offer to an analysis of contemporary psycho-emotional disablism’, paper presented at CeDR/ASS seminar, Lancaster University, 19 May.

This seminar paper captured the key findings from my PhD study and presented them to colleagues at Lancaster University.

Psycho-emotional disablism: A neglected dimension of disability? (keynote, 2008)

Reeve, D. (2008) ‘Psycho-emotional disablism: A neglected dimension of disability?’, paper presented at 3rd Cornwall Disability Research Network, Cornwall College, 27 November (keynote).

This keynote was addressed to a room full of disability studies people and undergraduates training in a range of health-related fields. My aim was to introduce the students in particular to a form of disablism which can be present in the relationships between health professionals and the people they are supporting – not something that usually emerges clearly from social model definitions of disability.