Who am I? Women with learning difficulties (re)constructing their self‐identity

Karin Barron

doi:10.1080/15017410209510783

Original Articles

Who am I? Women with learning difficulties (re)constructing their self‐identity

Author:

Karin Barron

Department of Sociology, Uppsala University, Sweden, SE

About Karin

PhD

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Abstract

The issue of (re)constructing one's self‐identity is an important, sociologically relevant issue of today. Qualitative interviews with women with learning difficulties have been done in order to further the understanding of the meaning of gender and disability, and what this means with regard to one's sense of self. Based on the lives realities of the participants, the analysis concludes that the social background and present situation of the elderly women make it difficult for these to have some control in their everyday lives. Among the participants, there are those who have an ambivalent approach to, and indeed oppose, the ascribed identity as learning disabled. This way of striving to reconstruct one's identity can be understood as a means of rejecting the oppressive situation of being rendered invisible and at the same time marked out as different, i.e. as a means of empowerment.

How to Cite: Barron, K., (2009). Who am I? Women with learning difficulties (re)constructing their self‐identity. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research. 4(1), pp.58–79. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/15017410209510783

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Published on 08 Jul 2009

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CC BY 4.0

References

Barnes , C , Mercer , G and Shakespeare , T (1999). . . Exploring Disability. A Sociological Introduction. , [city: Cambridge]: : Polity Press. .
Barron , K (1997). . . Disability and Gender. Autonomy as an Indication of Adulthood. , [city: Uppsala]: : Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Uppsala University. .
Barron , K (2000). . . “Kön och Inflytande [Gender and Influence]. ”. In Livsvillkor för personer med funktions‐hinder. Ett liv som andra [Living‐conditions of persons with disabilities. A life like that of others]. , Edited by: Brusén , P and Hydén , L‐C . [city: Lund]: : Studentlittteratur. .
Barron , K (2001). . . Autonomy in everyday life, for whom?. . Disability & Society , 16((no 3)): : 431.–.
Butler , J (1996). . . “Subversiva kroppsakter [Subversive acts of the body]. ”. In Feminismer [Feminisms]. , Edited by: Larsson , L . [city: Stockholm]: : Studentlitteratur. .
Brook , B (1999). . . Feminist perspectives on the Body. , [city: New York]: : Pearson Education Limited. .
Castells , M (1997). . . The Information Age. Economy, Society and Culture. Vol. II The Power of Identity. , [city: Massachusetts]: : Blackwell Publishers Inc. .
Charlton , JI (1998). . . Nothing About Us Without Us. Disability Oppression and Empowerment. , [city: Berkeley], [state: Los Angeles]: : University of California press. .
Fawcett , B (2000). . . Feminist Perspectives on Disability. , [city: Edinburgh Gate]: : Pearson Education Limited. .
Giddens , A (1979). . . Central Problems in Social Theory. , [city: London]: : Macmillan. .
Giddens , A (1991). . . Modernity and Self‐Identity. Self and Society in the Late Modern Age. , [city: Cambridge]: : Polity Press. .
Hillyer , B (1993). . . Feminism & Disability. , [city: Oklahoma]: : University of Oklahoma Press. .
Kitzinger , C and Frith , H (2000). . . “Det är bara att säga nej”. Feministiska perspektiv på avvisande av sexuella förslag ["It's just to say no”. Feminist perspectives on rejecting sexual suggestions]. . Kvinnovetenskaplig tidskrift , 3: : 19.–.
Kristiansen , K (2000). . . “Learning from and with women. The story of Jenny. ”. In Women with intellectual disabilities. Finding a place in the world. , Edited by: Traustadóttir , R and Johnson , K . [city: London and Philadelphia]: : Jessica Kingsley Publishers. .
McCall , MM (1993). . . “Social Constructionism in Critical Feminist Theory and Research. ”. In Constructionist Controversies. Issues in Social Problems Theory. , Edited by: Miller , G and Holstein , JA . [city: New York]: : Aldine De Gruyter. .
McCarthy , M (1998). . . Whose Body Is It Anyway? Pressures and Control for Women with Learning Difficulties. . Disability & Society , 13((4)): : 557.–.
McNay , L (2000). . . Gender and Agency. Reconfigurating the Subject in Feminist and Social Theory. , [city: Cambridge]: : Polity Press. .
Marks , D (1999). . . Disability. Controversial debates and psychosocial perspectives. , [city: London]: : Routledge. .
Miller , G and Holstein , JA (1993). . . “ Constructing social problems: Context and Legacy. ”. In Constructionist Controversies. Issues in Social Problems Theory. , Edited by: Miller , G and Holstein , JA . [city: New York]: : Aldine De Gruyter. .
Morris , J (1991). . . Pride against Prejudice: transforming attitudes to disability. , [city: London]: : The Women's Press. .
Munford , R (1995). . . A position of maginalisation or inclusion? The experiences of women with disabilities. . New Zealand journal of disability studies , I: : 29.–.
Oliver , M (1996). . . Understanding Disability. From Theory to Practice. , [city: Basingstoke]: : Macmillan. .
Rapley , M , Kiernan , P and Antaki , C (1998). . . Invisible to Themselves or Negotiating Identity? The Interactional Management of ‘Being Intellectually Disabled’. . Disability & Society , 13((5)): : 807.–.
Sandvin , J , Söder , M , Lichtwarck , W and Magnussen , T (1998). . . Mormaliseringsarbeid og ambivalens. Bofelleskap som omsorgsarena [Normalisation work and Ambivalence. Group‐homes as an arena of social care]. , [city: Oslo]: : Universitets‐forlaget. .
Shakespeare , T (1996). . . “Power and prejudice: issues of gender, sexuality and disability. ”. In Disability & Society: Emerging Issues and Insights Harlow. , Edited by: Barton , L . Pearson Education Limited. .
Sigurjónsdóttir , HB and Traustadóttir , R (2000). . . “Motherhood, Family and Community Life. ”. In Women with intellectual disabilities finding a place in the world. , Edited by: Traustadóttir , R and Johnson , K . [city: London], [state: Philadelphia]: : Jessica Kingsley Publishers. .
Thomas , C (1999). . . Female Forms. Experiencing and understanding disability. , [city: Buckingham], [state: Philadelphia]: : Open University Press. .
Traustadóttir , R (1999). . . “Gender, Disability and Community Life. Toward a Feminist Analysis. ”. In Responding to the Challenge. Current Trends and International Issues in Developmental Disabilities. Essays in honour of Gunnar Dybwad. , Edited by: Bersani , H Jr. [city: Cambridge]: : Brookline Books. .
Wendell , S (1996). . . The Rejected Body. Feminist Philosophical Reflections on Disability. , [city: New York]: : Routledge. .
Widerberg , K (1995). . . Kunskapens kön. Minnen, reflektioner och teori [The gender of knowledge. Recollections, reflections and theory]. , [city: Stockholm]: : Norstedts förlag AB. .
Young , I (1990). . . Justice and the Politics of Difference. , [city: Oxford]: : Princeton University Press. .

[CIT0001] Barnes , C , Mercer , G and Shakespeare , T (1999). . . Exploring Disability. A Sociological Introduction. , [city: Cambridge]: : Polity Press. .

[CIT0002] Barron , K (1997). . . Disability and Gender. Autonomy as an Indication of Adulthood. , [city: Uppsala]: : Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Uppsala University. .

[CIT0003] Barron , K (2000). . . “Kön och Inflytande [Gender and Influence]. ”. In Livsvillkor för personer med funktions‐hinder. Ett liv som andra [Living‐conditions of persons with disabilities. A life like that of others]. , Edited by: Brusén , P and Hydén , L‐C . [city: Lund]: : Studentlittteratur. .

[CIT0004] Barron , K (2001). . . Autonomy in everyday life, for whom?. . Disability & Society , 16((no 3)): : 431.–.

[CIT0005] Butler , J (1996). . . “Subversiva kroppsakter [Subversive acts of the body]. ”. In Feminismer [Feminisms]. , Edited by: Larsson , L . [city: Stockholm]: : Studentlitteratur. .

[CIT0006] Brook , B (1999). . . Feminist perspectives on the Body. , [city: New York]: : Pearson Education Limited. .

[CIT0007] Castells , M (1997). . . The Information Age. Economy, Society and Culture. Vol. II The Power of Identity. , [city: Massachusetts]: : Blackwell Publishers Inc. .

[CIT0008] Charlton , JI (1998). . . Nothing About Us Without Us. Disability Oppression and Empowerment. , [city: Berkeley], [state: Los Angeles]: : University of California press. .

[CIT0009] Fawcett , B (2000). . . Feminist Perspectives on Disability. , [city: Edinburgh Gate]: : Pearson Education Limited. .

[CIT0010] Giddens , A (1979). . . Central Problems in Social Theory. , [city: London]: : Macmillan. .

[CIT0011] Giddens , A (1991). . . Modernity and Self‐Identity. Self and Society in the Late Modern Age. , [city: Cambridge]: : Polity Press. .

[CIT0012] Hillyer , B (1993). . . Feminism & Disability. , [city: Oklahoma]: : University of Oklahoma Press. .

[CIT0013] Kitzinger , C and Frith , H (2000). . . “Det är bara att säga nej”. Feministiska perspektiv på avvisande av sexuella förslag ["It's just to say no”. Feminist perspectives on rejecting sexual suggestions]. . Kvinnovetenskaplig tidskrift , 3: : 19.–.

[CIT0014] Kristiansen , K (2000). . . “Learning from and with women. The story of Jenny. ”. In Women with intellectual disabilities. Finding a place in the world. , Edited by: Traustadóttir , R and Johnson , K . [city: London and Philadelphia]: : Jessica Kingsley Publishers. .

[CIT0015] McCall , MM (1993). . . “Social Constructionism in Critical Feminist Theory and Research. ”. In Constructionist Controversies. Issues in Social Problems Theory. , Edited by: Miller , G and Holstein , JA . [city: New York]: : Aldine De Gruyter. .

[CIT0016] McCarthy , M (1998). . . Whose Body Is It Anyway? Pressures and Control for Women with Learning Difficulties. . Disability & Society , 13((4)): : 557.–.

[CIT0017] McNay , L (2000). . . Gender and Agency. Reconfigurating the Subject in Feminist and Social Theory. , [city: Cambridge]: : Polity Press. .

[CIT0018] Marks , D (1999). . . Disability. Controversial debates and psychosocial perspectives. , [city: London]: : Routledge. .

[CIT0019] Miller , G and Holstein , JA (1993). . . “ Constructing social problems: Context and Legacy. ”. In Constructionist Controversies. Issues in Social Problems Theory. , Edited by: Miller , G and Holstein , JA . [city: New York]: : Aldine De Gruyter. .

[CIT0020] Morris , J (1991). . . Pride against Prejudice: transforming attitudes to disability. , [city: London]: : The Women's Press. .

[CIT0021] Munford , R (1995). . . A position of maginalisation or inclusion? The experiences of women with disabilities. . New Zealand journal of disability studies , I: : 29.–.

[CIT0022] Oliver , M (1996). . . Understanding Disability. From Theory to Practice. , [city: Basingstoke]: : Macmillan. .

[CIT0023] Rapley , M , Kiernan , P and Antaki , C (1998). . . Invisible to Themselves or Negotiating Identity? The Interactional Management of ‘Being Intellectually Disabled’. . Disability & Society , 13((5)): : 807.–.

[CIT0024] Sandvin , J , Söder , M , Lichtwarck , W and Magnussen , T (1998). . . Mormaliseringsarbeid og ambivalens. Bofelleskap som omsorgsarena [Normalisation work and Ambivalence. Group‐homes as an arena of social care]. , [city: Oslo]: : Universitets‐forlaget. .

[CIT0025] Shakespeare , T (1996). . . “Power and prejudice: issues of gender, sexuality and disability. ”. In Disability & Society: Emerging Issues and Insights Harlow. , Edited by: Barton , L . Pearson Education Limited. .

[CIT0026] Sigurjónsdóttir , HB and Traustadóttir , R (2000). . . “Motherhood, Family and Community Life. ”. In Women with intellectual disabilities finding a place in the world. , Edited by: Traustadóttir , R and Johnson , K . [city: London], [state: Philadelphia]: : Jessica Kingsley Publishers. .

[CIT0027] Thomas , C (1999). . . Female Forms. Experiencing and understanding disability. , [city: Buckingham], [state: Philadelphia]: : Open University Press. .

[CIT0028] Traustadóttir , R (1999). . . “Gender, Disability and Community Life. Toward a Feminist Analysis. ”. In Responding to the Challenge. Current Trends and International Issues in Developmental Disabilities. Essays in honour of Gunnar Dybwad. , Edited by: Bersani , H Jr. [city: Cambridge]: : Brookline Books. .

[CIT0029] Wendell , S (1996). . . The Rejected Body. Feminist Philosophical Reflections on Disability. , [city: New York]: : Routledge. .

[CIT0030] Widerberg , K (1995). . . Kunskapens kön. Minnen, reflektioner och teori [The gender of knowledge. Recollections, reflections and theory]. , [city: Stockholm]: : Norstedts förlag AB. .

[CIT0031] Young , I (1990). . . Justice and the Politics of Difference. , [city: Oxford]: : Princeton University Press. .

Reading: Who am I? Women with learning difficulties (re)constructing their self‐identity

Original Articles

Who am I? Women with learning difficulties (re)constructing their self‐identity

Author:

Karin Barron

Department of Sociology, Uppsala University, Sweden, SE

About Karin

X close

Abstract

References