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A review by sincerelyalioth
Crippled: Austerity and the Demonization of Disabled People by Frances Ryan
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
there is this trend in society to blame individuals for not fitting in, instead of critising society for not being inclusive of everyone. this terrible mindset is also how discussions of prenatal diagnosis (who has the right to live and who doesn't) come to be. it's so normalized to live in this uninclusive society, people just accept that there are individuals who are "naturally" not a part of it because they simply don't fit in. BUT YOU SHOULD BE CRITISING THE SYSTEM NOT THE PEOPLE FOR THIS ISSUE
still, there is this equality myth which is really interesting to me since it's applicable to any minority in society, really. it's like "of course, everyone is important and everyone is included because everyone is the same!" but you only get treated as such if you "behave" the same as everyone. and of course, some people are different and can't behave "the same" or rather (a term that society loves to use) "normal". that goes for disabled people but also for queer people and sometimes also ethnic minorities. so this "unnormal" behaviour apparently justifies being cast out of society, since you don't fit in. but the whole point of equality is to include people who are different and to support them in this system. but atm equality means being supported only if you act "normal" which is horrible for the outcasts but great for the state because that way they don't actually have to do anything but blame individuals themselves for not trying hard enough to be normal and accepted.
this book was really interesting to read and opened my eyes to many issues of our system.
but it also took me 9 months to finish because i'm not used to reading non-fiction books xD
still, there is this equality myth which is really interesting to me since it's applicable to any minority in society, really. it's like "of course, everyone is important and everyone is included because everyone is the same!" but you only get treated as such if you "behave" the same as everyone. and of course, some people are different and can't behave "the same" or rather (a term that society loves to use) "normal". that goes for disabled people but also for queer people and sometimes also ethnic minorities. so this "unnormal" behaviour apparently justifies being cast out of society, since you don't fit in. but the whole point of equality is to include people who are different and to support them in this system. but atm equality means being supported only if you act "normal" which is horrible for the outcasts but great for the state because that way they don't actually have to do anything but blame individuals themselves for not trying hard enough to be normal and accepted.
this book was really interesting to read and opened my eyes to many issues of our system.
but it also took me 9 months to finish because i'm not used to reading non-fiction books xD