ableism
ableism
Pronunciation
ableism /eɪbl̩ɪzəm/
a /eɪ/
ble /bl̩/
ism /ɪzəm/
Word Form Variations
Noun: ableism (uncountable, no plural form)
Adjective: ableist
Adverb: ableistically
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
ableism
Discrimination and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. This often manifests in societal structures, attitudes, and practices that disadvantage or exclude individuals with disabilities.
Synonyms: disability discrimination, disablism, handicapism
Antonyms: inclusivity, accessibility, equality (in the context of disability rights)
Adjective
ableist
Characterized by or reflecting ableism; demonstrating prejudice or discrimination against people with disabilities.
Synonyms: discriminatory (towards disability), prejudiced (against disability), exclusionary (in the context of disability)
Antonyms: inclusive, accessible, equitable, disability-affirmative
Adverb
ableistically
In a manner that demonstrates or is influenced by ableism; in a way that is discriminatory towards people with disabilities.
Synonyms: discriminatorily (towards disability), prejudicedly (against disability), exclusively (in the context of disability)
Antonyms: inclusively, accessibly, equitably
Examples of Use
In Books:
"Navigating ableist situations is like traversing the muckiest mud pit." (Haben Girma, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law, 2019)
"The pushback to this idea often comes in the form of the social model of disability, which states that we are disabled by society and lack of access rather than by our bodies, and tackling systemic ableism may feel like tilting at windmills, but it is still easier to address than some kind of failing within ourselves." (Alice Wong, Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life, 2022)
"Even adulthood and the self-advocacy abilities that, at least for me, have come with it, are no protection from ableism." (Alice Wong, Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century, 2020)
In Newspapers and Online Publications:
"When the New York Times published an opinion piece by disabled journalist Andrew Pulrang titled 'Is It Ever OK to Stare at a Disabled Person?', the discussion around ableism and social etiquette was reignited." (Various online disability publications discussing the NYT piece, 2023)
"Critiques of Universal Design often point out that while well-intentioned, its implementation can still fall short due to ingrained ableism in design processes." (Architectural and urban planning journals, ongoing discussions)
"A recent article explored how ableism in healthcare disproportionately affects disabled individuals, leading to misdiagnoses and inadequate care." (Health news platforms, e.g., STAT News, 2024)
"The concept of 'inspiration porn,' coined by Stella Young, highlights a pervasive form of ableism where disabled people are objectified for the benefit of non-disabled people." (The Guardian, 2014, and subsequent analyses in online media)
In Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The controversy surrounding Sia's film 'Music' centered heavily on accusations of ableism due to its portrayal of an autistic character by a neurotypical actor." (Film reviews and disability advocacy groups, 2021)
Television: "Episodes of shows like 'Special' on Netflix directly address and satirize the daily experiences of navigating ableism as a disabled person in society." (Streaming service reviews and cultural commentary, 2019 onwards)
Video Games: "Developers are increasingly being called upon to address ableism in game design, from inaccessible controls to narrative tropes that depict disability negatively." (Gaming news sites and accessibility advocates, ongoing)
Social Media: "On TikTok and Instagram, disabled creators frequently share personal stories and educational content to expose and challenge everyday ableism they encounter." (Observations of trending topics and creator content on platforms, ongoing)
In General Public Discourse:
"Discussions about remote work's future often touch on how it could either reduce or inadvertently perpetuate ableism, depending on how policies are implemented." (Workplace diversity forums, 2020 onwards)
"The campaign for accessible public transportation regularly highlights how existing infrastructure is a manifestation of historical ableism in urban planning." (Public advocacy and city council meetings, ongoing)
"When debating the use of person-first versus identity-first language ('person with a disability' vs. 'disabled person'), disability advocates often frame it in terms of combating linguistic ableism." (Disability community discussions, ongoing)
"Movements to decolonize wellness often intersect with disability justice, pointing out how certain wellness ideals perpetuate ableism by prioritizing specific body types or abilities." (Wellness and social justice discourse, ongoing)
10 Famous Quotes Using Ableism
"Navigating ableist situations is like traversing the muckiest mud pit." (Haben Girma, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law)
"The pushback to this idea often comes in the form of the social model of disability, which states that we are disabled by society and lack of access rather than by our bodies, and tackling systemic ableism may feel like tilting at windmills, but it is still easier to address than some kind of failing within ourselves." (Alice Wong, Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life)
"Ableist ideas and beliefs affect people with disabilities in all aspects of life, including employment, healthcare, education, housing, transportation, etc." (Theo W. Braddy, "27 Quotes From People with Disabilities," The Arc of Opportunity, April 2024)
"There's nothing more debilitating about a disability than the way people treat you over it; that is ableism." (Solange Nicole)
"Even adulthood and the self-advocacy abilities that, at least for me, have come with it, are no protection from ableism." ("15 Common Phrases That Are Way More Ableist Than You May Realize," Everyday Feminism, March 2016)
"The Economist's April 2016 cover titled 'Beautiful Minds, Wasted' was another egregious instance of blatant ableism perpetuated by mass media." ("Ableist magazine covers: A look through time," Much Much Spectrum, July 2024)
"This week's The Economist cover is ableist, disgraceful, and deeply offensive." (Catarina Rivera, disability advocate, July 2024)
"It wasn't that they didn't care... But the things they said about autistic people, while I and another autistic adult were sitting right there in the room, were absolutely ableist and generally terrible to hear." ("15 Common Phrases That Are Way More Ableist Than You May Realize," Everyday Feminism, March 2016)
"We are so often kept apart, we disabled people, and kept from knowing each other's names; we are told not to hang out with the other kid with cerebral palsy, told to deny or downplay our disabilities or Deafness or ND, which is a form of ableism." (Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, The Future Is Disabled: Prophecies, Love Notes, and Mourning Songs)
"One of the biggest things that's so toxic about ableism and capitalism is this idea that our worth is based on our productivity." (Alice Wong, Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life)
Etymology
The word "ableism" is a relatively new term, but the ideas it describes have been around for a very long time.
It was created by combining two parts:
"Able-": This comes from the word "able," which means having the power, skill, or means to do something. You can see it in words like "disable" or "disabled."
"-ism": This is a common ending used to form nouns that refer to a system of beliefs, practices, or discrimination, especially against a particular group (like in "racism" or "sexism").
So, putting them together, "ableism" essentially means a system or belief that favors people who are "able-bodied" or have typical abilities, and discriminates against those with disabilities.
The first known use of the word "ableism" in print dates back to the early 1980s, specifically around 1981 or 1980-85, within the disability rights movement, particularly among U.S. feminists. It gained traction as activists sought a specific term to describe the prejudice and discrimination faced by people with disabilities, similar to how "racism" describes racial discrimination. Before this word existed, the concept of such discrimination was certainly present, but it didn't have a single, widely recognized term to define it.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Ableism
Internalized ableism: The phenomenon where a person with a disability adopts negative views and stereotypes about disability, often due to societal pressures.
Combatting ableism: Working to challenge and dismantle discriminatory practices and attitudes against people with disabilities.
Systemic ableism: Refers to the ingrained prejudice and discrimination against people with disabilities that is embedded within the structures, policies, and practices of society.
Everyday ableism: Subtle, often unintentional, acts or remarks that perpetuate prejudice against people with disabilities in daily interactions.
Unpack your ableism: A call to critically examine and address one's own biases or discriminatory behaviors related to disability.
Challenging ableism: Directly confronting and speaking out against ableist attitudes or actions.
Dismantle ableism: To actively work towards removing or destroying the systems and beliefs that promote ableism.
Call out ableism: To publicly identify and condemn instances of ableist behavior or language.
Beyond the ableist lens: Seeing individuals with disabilities for their full humanity and capabilities, rather than through a prejudiced or limited perspective.
A society free of ableism: An aspirational goal for a world where people with disabilities are fully included and face no discrimination.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of ableism from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
