Ability, inability, disability, and antidiscrimination law

Dimitris Michailakis

doi:10.1080/15017410009510759

Research

Ability, inability, disability, and antidiscrimination law

Author:

Dimitris Michailakis

University of Uppsala, Sweden, SE

About Dimitris

Dimitris Michailakis Ph.D. Assistant professor. The author of this article received his Ph.D in 1995 at the University of Uppsala, Sweden. He has since been working for the Special Rapporteur on Disability of the UN Commission for Social Development, for the WHO, for the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and is currently, since January 2000, holding a 62 SJDR - Volume 2, No. 2 – 2000 position as Assistant Professor at Uppsala University. His research interest concerns systems theory, disability and the labour market, the legal construction of disability. He has several publications, both national and international.

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Abstract

In this article the new disability anti‐discrimination law in Sweden is considered. The underlying prejudice‐causes‐discrimination model is criticised. It is argued that the new law ‐ which makes unlawful to discriminate persons with disabilities by applying stereotypes in evaluating them as job applicants outlaws prejudiced behaviour on the part of employers as such, without connecting it with any outcome in employment opportunities. The disability anti‐discrimination law is elitist in so far as it only assists those disabled workers whose profile is rather congruous with the profile of non‐disabled employees. The law individualises a systemic problem; it makes discrimination and exclusion of disabled persons from the labour market a problem concerning the prejudiced individual, thereby simplifying both the problem and the way to solve it. The lawmaker has not taken into consideration systemic aspects or gain‐motivated discrimination, neither that which might appear, as a gulf between ideals and practice are the outcome of a whole range of different practices that respond to different needs. The antidiscrimination law ‐ as if guided by neo‐liberal considerations, i.e. rules are not drawn up in order to direct the behaviour of the market ‐ rescues governments from the requirements of acting on behalf of the disadvantaged group..

How to Cite: Michailakis, D., (2009). Ability, inability, disability, and antidiscrimination law . Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research . 2 ( 2 ) , pp . 32–62 . DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/15017410009510759

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Published on 08 Jul 2009

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CC BY 4.0

References

Alston , Ph. . (1995). . “Disability and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights”. . In Human Rights and Disabled persons. Essays and Relevant human Rights Instruments. , Edited by: Degener , Theresia and Koster‐Dreese , Yolan . Kluwer Academic Publishers. .
Banton , M. (1967). . Race Relations. , [city: London]: : Tavistock Publications. .
Banton , M. (1994). . Discrimination. , [city: Buckingham]: : Open University Press. .
Barnes , C. (1991). . Disabled People in Britain and Discrimination: A Case for Anti‐Discrimination Legislation. , [city: London]: : Hurst and Co. .
Barnes , C. , Mercer , G. and Shakespeare , T. (1999). . Exploring Disability: A Sociological Introduction. , Oxford Polity. .
Barton , L. (1989). , ed. . Disability and Dependence. , [city: Lewes]: : Falmer. .
Bauman , Z. (1998). . Work, Consumerism and the New Poor. , [city: London]: : Open University Press). .
Bickenbach , J. E. (1999). . “Minority Rights or Universal Participation”. . In Disability, Divers‐Ability and Legal Change. , Edited by: Jones , M. and Marks , L.A. Basser . International Studies in Human Rights Martnus Nijhoff Publishers. .
Bourdieu , P. (1998). . The Stale Nobility. , Polity Cambridge. .
Bourdieu , P. (1999). . Den manliga dominansen. , [city: Göteborg]: : Daidalos. .
Byrne , D. (1999). . Social Exclusion. , [city: Buckingham], [state: Philadelphia]: : Open University Press. .
Degener , Th. and Koster‐Dreese , Y. . (1995). , eds. . Human Rights and Disabled persons. Essays and Relevant human Rights Instruments. , Kluwer Academic Publishers. .
Dominelli , L. (1999). . “Neo‐Liberalism, Social Exclusion and Welfare Clients in a Global Economy.”. . International Journal of Social Welfare , 8((1))
Doyle , B. (1995). . Disability, Discrimination and Equal Opportunities. A Comparative Study of the Employment Rights of Disabled Persons. , [city: London]: : Mansell Publishing Limited. .
Doyle , B. (1997). . “Changing laws: non‐discrimination, equality of opportunities, labour relationship”. . In labour market 2000. International Congress. Palace of congress, Brussels, 21 and 22 October 1996, , Escuela Libre Editorial Fundation ONCE[city: Madrid]:
Drake , F.R. (1999). . Understanding Disability Policies. , [city: London]: : Macmillan. .
Feagin , R. J. (1978). . Racial and Ethnic Relations. , [city: Englewood Cliffs], [state: New Jersey]: : Prentice‐Hall, Inc.. .
Finkelstein , V. (1980). . Attitudes and Disabled People. , [city: Geneva]: : World Health Organisation. .
Gould , M. (1999). . “Race and Theory: Culture, Poverty, and Adaptation To Discrimination in Wilson and Ogbu”. . Sociological Theory , 172 July 1999 1999: : 171.–.
Jenkins , R. (1991). . “Disability and Social Stratification”. . The British Journal of Sociology , 42((l))
Jones , M. and Basser Marks , L.A. (1999). . Disability, Divers‐Ability and Legal Change. , International Studies in Human Rights Martnus Nijhoff Publishers. .
Kronman , A. T. (1983). . Max Weber. , [city: Stanford]: : Stanford University Press. .
Le Grand , C. (1999). . “Empiriska problem och möjligheter med att belägga diskriminering I arbetslivet”. . In Diskriminering i arbetslivet ‐normativa och deskriptiva perspektiv. , [city: Stockholm]: : Socialveteskapliga forskningsrädet. .
Luhmann , N. (1995). . Social Systems. , [city: Stanford], [state: California]: : Stanford University Press. .
Merton , K. R. (1976). . “Discrimination and the American Creed”. . In Sociological Ambivalence and Other Essays. , Edited by: Merton , R. K. [city: London]: : The Free Press. Collier Macmillan Publishers. . [1949]).
Michailakis , D. (1997). . “When Opportunity is the Thing to be Equalised”. . Disability & Society , 12((1))
Michailakis , D. (2000). . Studie av arbetsplatsanpassningar med IT‐baserade hjälpmedel för funktionshindrade personer. , [city: Uppsala]: : Forskningsrapport 2000:2 IFAU ‐ Institutet for arbetsmarknadspolitisk utvärdering. .
Numhauser‐Henning , A. (1999). . “Lagstiftning och rättstillämpning i Sverige. Något om de nya förbuden mot diskriminering i arbetslivet och deras implikationer.”. . In Diskriminering i arbetslivet ‐ normativa och deskriptiva perspektiv. , [city: Stockholm]: : Socialveteskapliga forskningsrådet. .
Oliver , M. (1983). . Social Work with Disabled People. , [city: London]: : Macmillan. .
Oliver , M. and Barnes , C. (1991). . “Discrimination, disability and welfare: from needs to rights”. . In Equal Rights and Disabled People: The case for a New Law. , Edited by: Bynoe , I. , Olive , M. and Barnes , C. [city: London]: : Institute of Public Policy Research. .
Oliver , M. and Barnes , C. (1998). . Disabled People and Social Policy: from exclusion to Inclusion. , Harlow Longman. .
Parkin , F. (1974). . “Strategies of Social Closure in Class Formation”. . In The Social Analysis of Class Structure. , Edited by: Parkin , F. [city: London]: : Tavistock. .
Parkin , F. (1979). . Marxism and Class Theory: A Bourgeois Critique. , [city: New York]: : Columbia University Press. .
Quinn , G. (1995). . “The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Disability: A Conceptual Framework.”. . In Human Rights and Disabled Persons. Essays and Relevant Human Rights Instruments. , Edited by: Degener , T. and Koster‐Dreese , Y. [city: Dordrecht]: : Kluwer Academic Publishers. .
Rawls , J. (1990). . A Theory of Justice. , [city: Oxford]: : Oxford University Press. .
Rawls , J. (1998). . “Distributive Justice”. . In Democracy, Difference and Social Justice. , Edited by: Mahajan , G. [city: Dehli]: : Oxford University Press. .
Regeringens Proposition 1997/98:179. Lag on forbud mot diskriminering I arbetslivet av personer med funktionshinder.
Rosenberg , A. (1995). . “Equality, Sufficiency and Opportunity in the Just Society”. . Social Philosophy & Policy , 2
SFS 1999:132. Lag on forbud mot diskriminering I arbetslivet av personer med funktionshinder.
SFS 1991:433. Jämställdhetslag.
SFS 1999:130. Lag om åtgärder mot etnisk diskriminering i arbetslivet.
SFS 1999:133. Lag om förbud mot diskriminering i arbetslivet på grund av sexuell läggning.
Tomasevski , K. (1999). . “From Healthism to Social Well‐Being”. . In Disability, Divers‐Ability and Legal Change. , Edited by: Jones , M. and Basser Marks , L.A. International Studies in Human Rights Martnus Nijhoff Publishers. .
Weber , M. (1968). . Economy and Society. , Edited by: Roth , G. and Wittich , C. [city: New York]: : Bedminster press. .

[CIT0001] Alston , Ph. . (1995). . “Disability and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights”. . In Human Rights and Disabled persons. Essays and Relevant human Rights Instruments. , Edited by: Degener , Theresia and Koster‐Dreese , Yolan . Kluwer Academic Publishers. .

[CIT0002] Banton , M. (1967). . Race Relations. , [city: London]: : Tavistock Publications. .

[CIT0003] Banton , M. (1994). . Discrimination. , [city: Buckingham]: : Open University Press. .

[CIT0004] Barnes , C. (1991). . Disabled People in Britain and Discrimination: A Case for Anti‐Discrimination Legislation. , [city: London]: : Hurst and Co. .

[CIT0005] Barnes , C. , Mercer , G. and Shakespeare , T. (1999). . Exploring Disability: A Sociological Introduction. , Oxford Polity. .

[CIT0006] Barton , L. (1989). , ed. . Disability and Dependence. , [city: Lewes]: : Falmer. .

[CIT0007] Bauman , Z. (1998). . Work, Consumerism and the New Poor. , [city: London]: : Open University Press). .

[CIT0008] Bickenbach , J. E. (1999). . “Minority Rights or Universal Participation”. . In Disability, Divers‐Ability and Legal Change. , Edited by: Jones , M. and Marks , L.A. Basser . International Studies in Human Rights Martnus Nijhoff Publishers. .

[CIT0009] Bourdieu , P. (1998). . The Stale Nobility. , Polity Cambridge. .

[CIT0010] Bourdieu , P. (1999). . Den manliga dominansen. , [city: Göteborg]: : Daidalos. .

[CIT0011] Byrne , D. (1999). . Social Exclusion. , [city: Buckingham], [state: Philadelphia]: : Open University Press. .

[CIT0012] Degener , Th. and Koster‐Dreese , Y. . (1995). , eds. . Human Rights and Disabled persons. Essays and Relevant human Rights Instruments. , Kluwer Academic Publishers. .

[CIT0013] Dominelli , L. (1999). . “Neo‐Liberalism, Social Exclusion and Welfare Clients in a Global Economy.”. . International Journal of Social Welfare , 8((1))

[CIT0014] Doyle , B. (1995). . Disability, Discrimination and Equal Opportunities. A Comparative Study of the Employment Rights of Disabled Persons. , [city: London]: : Mansell Publishing Limited. .

[CIT0015] Doyle , B. (1997). . “Changing laws: non‐discrimination, equality of opportunities, labour relationship”. . In labour market 2000. International Congress. Palace of congress, Brussels, 21 and 22 October 1996, , Escuela Libre Editorial Fundation ONCE[city: Madrid]:

[CIT0016] Drake , F.R. (1999). . Understanding Disability Policies. , [city: London]: : Macmillan. .

[CIT0017] Feagin , R. J. (1978). . Racial and Ethnic Relations. , [city: Englewood Cliffs], [state: New Jersey]: : Prentice‐Hall, Inc.. .

[CIT0018] Finkelstein , V. (1980). . Attitudes and Disabled People. , [city: Geneva]: : World Health Organisation. .

[CIT0019] Gould , M. (1999). . “Race and Theory: Culture, Poverty, and Adaptation To Discrimination in Wilson and Ogbu”. . Sociological Theory , 172 July 1999 1999: : 171.–.

[CIT0020] Jenkins , R. (1991). . “Disability and Social Stratification”. . The British Journal of Sociology , 42((l))

[CIT0021] Jones , M. and Basser Marks , L.A. (1999). . Disability, Divers‐Ability and Legal Change. , International Studies in Human Rights Martnus Nijhoff Publishers. .

[CIT0022] Kronman , A. T. (1983). . Max Weber. , [city: Stanford]: : Stanford University Press. .

[CIT0023] Le Grand , C. (1999). . “Empiriska problem och möjligheter med att belägga diskriminering I arbetslivet”. . In Diskriminering i arbetslivet ‐normativa och deskriptiva perspektiv. , [city: Stockholm]: : Socialveteskapliga forskningsrädet. .

[CIT0024] Luhmann , N. (1995). . Social Systems. , [city: Stanford], [state: California]: : Stanford University Press. .

[CIT0025] Merton , K. R. (1976). . “Discrimination and the American Creed”. . In Sociological Ambivalence and Other Essays. , Edited by: Merton , R. K. [city: London]: : The Free Press. Collier Macmillan Publishers. . [1949]).

[CIT0026] Michailakis , D. (1997). . “When Opportunity is the Thing to be Equalised”. . Disability & Society , 12((1))

[CIT0027] Michailakis , D. (2000). . Studie av arbetsplatsanpassningar med IT‐baserade hjälpmedel för funktionshindrade personer. , [city: Uppsala]: : Forskningsrapport 2000:2 IFAU ‐ Institutet for arbetsmarknadspolitisk utvärdering. .

[CIT0028] Numhauser‐Henning , A. (1999). . “Lagstiftning och rättstillämpning i Sverige. Något om de nya förbuden mot diskriminering i arbetslivet och deras implikationer.”. . In Diskriminering i arbetslivet ‐ normativa och deskriptiva perspektiv. , [city: Stockholm]: : Socialveteskapliga forskningsrådet. .

[CIT0029] Oliver , M. (1983). . Social Work with Disabled People. , [city: London]: : Macmillan. .

[CIT0030] Oliver , M. and Barnes , C. (1991). . “Discrimination, disability and welfare: from needs to rights”. . In Equal Rights and Disabled People: The case for a New Law. , Edited by: Bynoe , I. , Olive , M. and Barnes , C. [city: London]: : Institute of Public Policy Research. .

[CIT0031] Oliver , M. and Barnes , C. (1998). . Disabled People and Social Policy: from exclusion to Inclusion. , Harlow Longman. .

[CIT0032] Parkin , F. (1974). . “Strategies of Social Closure in Class Formation”. . In The Social Analysis of Class Structure. , Edited by: Parkin , F. [city: London]: : Tavistock. .

[CIT0033] Parkin , F. (1979). . Marxism and Class Theory: A Bourgeois Critique. , [city: New York]: : Columbia University Press. .

[CIT0034] Quinn , G. (1995). . “The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Disability: A Conceptual Framework.”. . In Human Rights and Disabled Persons. Essays and Relevant Human Rights Instruments. , Edited by: Degener , T. and Koster‐Dreese , Y. [city: Dordrecht]: : Kluwer Academic Publishers. .

[CIT0035] Rawls , J. (1990). . A Theory of Justice. , [city: Oxford]: : Oxford University Press. .

[CIT0036] Rawls , J. (1998). . “Distributive Justice”. . In Democracy, Difference and Social Justice. , Edited by: Mahajan , G. [city: Dehli]: : Oxford University Press. .

[CIT0037] Regeringens Proposition 1997/98:179. Lag on forbud mot diskriminering I arbetslivet av personer med funktionshinder.

[CIT0038] Rosenberg , A. (1995). . “Equality, Sufficiency and Opportunity in the Just Society”. . Social Philosophy & Policy , 2

[CIT0039] SFS 1999:132. Lag on forbud mot diskriminering I arbetslivet av personer med funktionshinder.

[CIT0040] SFS 1991:433. Jämställdhetslag.

[CIT0041] SFS 1999:130. Lag om åtgärder mot etnisk diskriminering i arbetslivet.

[CIT0042] SFS 1999:133. Lag om förbud mot diskriminering i arbetslivet på grund av sexuell läggning.

[CIT0043] Tomasevski , K. (1999). . “From Healthism to Social Well‐Being”. . In Disability, Divers‐Ability and Legal Change. , Edited by: Jones , M. and Basser Marks , L.A. International Studies in Human Rights Martnus Nijhoff Publishers. .

[CIT0044] Weber , M. (1968). . Economy and Society. , Edited by: Roth , G. and Wittich , C. [city: New York]: : Bedminster press. .

Reading: Ability, inability, disability, and antidiscrimination law

Research

Ability, inability, disability, and antidiscrimination law

Author:

Dimitris Michailakis

University of Uppsala, Sweden, SE

About Dimitris

X close

Abstract

References