Rescuing a social relational understanding of disability

Carol Thomas

doi:10.1080/15017410409512637

Original Articles

Rescuing a social relational understanding of disability

Author:

Carol Thomas

Institute for Health Research at Lancaster University, UK, GB

About Carol

Senior Lecturer

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Abstract

This paper considers some of the themes to be found in current UK debates about the social model of disability. It commences with a review of the origins and key features of the social model, then moves on to an examination of current critiques of its efficacy. The argument advanced is that the radical ideas that laid the foundation for the social model of disability contain a social relational kernel that now needs to be rescued and developed. A rescue is required because this social relational understanding of disability has become over‐shadowed by the social model itself as the latter has risen in stature, and has been obscured in the heat of recent debates about the model's strengths and weaknesses.

How to Cite: Thomas, C., 2009. Rescuing a social relational understanding of disability. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 6(1), pp.22–36. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/15017410409512637

Published on 08 Jul 2009

Peer Reviewed

CC BY 4.0

References

Abberley , P. (2002). . “Work, Disability, Disabled People and European Social Theory. ”. In Disability Studies Today. , Edited by: Barnes , C. , Oliver , M. and Barton , L. [city: Cambridge]: : Polity Press. .
Barnes , C. , Oliver , M. and Barton , L. (2002). , eds. . Disability Studies Today. , [city: Cambridge]: : Polity Press. .
Barton , L. (1996). , ed. . Disability and Society: Emerging Issues and Insights. , [city: Harlow]: : Longman. .
Canterbery , R.E. (2000). . Wall Street Capitalism: the theory of the bondholding class. , [city: Singapore]: : World Scientific. .
Charlton , J.I. (1998). . Nothing about Us without Us: Disability, Oppression and Empowerment. , [city: Berkeley]: : University of California Press. .
Corker , M. (1998). . Deaf and Disabled, or Deafness Disabled?. , [city: Buckingham]: : Open University Press. .
Corker , M. and French , S. (1999). , eds. . Disability Discourse. , [city: Buckingham]: : Open University Press. .
Corker , M. and Shakespeare , T. (2002). , eds. . Disability/Postmodernity: Embodying Disability Theory. , [city: London]: : Continuum. .
Crow , L. (1996). . “Including all our lives: renewing the social model of disability. ”. In Exploring the Divide: Illness and Disability. , Edited by: Barnes , C. and Mercer , J. [city: Leeds]: : The Disability Press. .
Finkelstein , V. (1980). . Attitudes and Disabled People: Issues for Discussion. , [city: New York]: : World Rehabilitation Fund. .
Finkelstein , V. (2001). . A Personal Journey into Disability Politics. , The Disability Studies Archive UK, Centre for Disability Studies, University of Leeds. . http: //www.leeds,ac.uk/disability‐studies/archiveuk/archframe.htm.
French , S. (1993). . “Disability, impairment or something in between?. ”. In Disabling Barriers ‐ Enabling Environments. , Edited by: Swain , J. , Finkelstein , V. , French , S. and Oliver , M. [city: London]: : Sage. .
Gilpin , R. (2000). . The challenge of global capitalism: the world economy in the 21st century. , [city: Princeton], [state: N.J.]: : Princeton University Press. .
Gleeson , B.J. (1999). . Geographies of Disability. , [city: London]: : Routledge. .
Goodley , D. (2001). . ‘Learning Difficulties’, the Social Model of Disability and Impairment: challenging epistemologies. . Disability and Society. , 16((2)): : 207.–.
Graham , H. (2002). . Building an interdisciplinary science of health inequalities: the example of lifecourse research. . Social Science and Medicine , 55: : 2005.–.
Greider , W. (1997). . One world, ready or not: the manic logic of global capitalism. , [city: Hannondsworth]: : Penguin. .
Hevey , D. (1992). . The Creatures Time Forget. , [city: London]: : Routledge. .
Hughes , B. and Paterson , K. (1997). . The social model of disability and the disappearing body: towards a sociology of impairment. . Disability and Society , 12: : 325.–.
Ingstad , B. (2001). . “Disability in the Developing World. ”. In Handbook of Disability Studies. , Edited by: Albrecht , G. , Seelman , K. and Bury , M. [city: London]: : Sage. .
Morris , J. (1991). . Pride Against Prejudice: Transforming Attitudes to Disability. , [city: London]: : The Women's Press. .
Morris , J. (1996). , ed. . Encounters With Strangers: Feminism and Disability. , [city: London]: : The Women's Press. .
Oliver , M. (1990). . The Politics of Disablement. , [city: London]: : Macmillan. .
Oliver , M. (1996). . Understanding Disability. , [city: London]: : Macmillan. .
Paterson , K. (). Disabilty studies and phenomenology: finding a space for both the carnal and the political. . Paper presented to the British Sociological Association Conference. . April, , [city: Edinburgh].
Pilger , J. (2002). . The New Rulers of the World. , [city: London]: : Verso. .
Price , J. and Shildrick , M. (2002). . “Bodies Together: Touch, Ethics and Disability. ”. In Disability/Postmodernity: Embodying Disability Theory. , Edited by: Corker , M. and Shakespeare , T. [city: London]: : Continuum. .
Priestley , M (2001). , ed. . Disability and the Life Course: Global Perspectives. , [city: Cambridge]: : Cambridge University Press. .
Reeve , D. (2002). . Negotiating Psycho‐emotional Dimensions of Disability and their Influence on Identity Constructions. . Disability and Society , 17((5)): : 493.–.
Roulstone , A. (1998). . Enabling Technology: disabled people, work and new technology. , [city: Buckingham]: : Open University Press. .
Roulestone , A (2002). . . Disabling Pasts, Enabling Futures? How Does the Changing Nature of Capitalism Impact on the Disabled Worker and Jobseeker?. . Disability and Society , 17((6)): : 627.–.
Sapey , B. (2000). . Disablement in the Informational Age. . Disability and Society , 15((4)): : 619.–.
Shakespeare , T. (1997). . “Cultural Representation of Disabled People: dustbins of disavowal?. ”. In Disability Studies: Past, Present and Future. , Edited by: Barton , L. and Oliver , M. [city: Leeds]: : The Disability Press. .
Shakespeare , T. and Watson , N. (2001). . “The Social Model of Disability: An Outdated Ideology?. ”. In Research on Social Science and Disability, Volume 2, Exploring Theories and Expanding Methodologies. , Volume 2, Elsevier Science Ltd.. .
Stone , E. (1999). . Disability and development: learning from action and research on disability in the majority world. , [city: Leeds]: : The Disability Press. .
Thomas , C. (1997). . The baby and the bathwater: disabled women and motherhood in social context. . Sociology of Health and Illness , 19((5)): : 622.–.
Thomas , C. (1999). . Female Forms: experiencing and understanding disability. , [city: Buckingham]: : Open University Press. .
Thomas , C. (2001). . “‘Feminism and Disability: The Theoretical and Political Significance of the Personal and the Experiential’. ”. In Disability, Politics and the Struggle for Change. , Edited by: Barton , L. [city: London]: : David Fulton Publications. .
Thomas , C. (2002). . “Disability Theory: Key Ideas, Issues and Thinkers. ”. In Disability Studies Today. , Edited by: Barnes , C , Oliver , M. and Barton , L. [city: Cambridge]: : Polity Press. .
Thomas , C. (2004). . “‘Developing the social relational in the social model of disability: a theoretical agenda’. ”. In The Social Model of Disability ‐ Theoiy and Research. , Edited by: Barnes , C. [city: Leeds]: : The Disability Press. .
Traustadottir , R. (2003). 4–6 September 2003. “Gender and Disability Research in the Nordic Countries. Conference paper. ”. In Disability Studies: Theory, Policy and Practice. , 4–6 September 2003, UK: : Lancaster University. .
UPIAS (1976). . . Fundamental Principles of Disability. , [city: London]: : Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation. .
Williams , S. and Bendelow , G. (1998). . The Lived Body: Sociological Themes, Embodies Issues. , [city: London]: : Routledge. .
Williams , S. (2001). . Emotion and Social Theory. , [city: London]: : Sage. .

[CIT0001] Abberley , P. (2002). . “Work, Disability, Disabled People and European Social Theory. ”. In Disability Studies Today. , Edited by: Barnes , C. , Oliver , M. and Barton , L. [city: Cambridge]: : Polity Press. .

[CIT0002] Barnes , C. , Oliver , M. and Barton , L. (2002). , eds. . Disability Studies Today. , [city: Cambridge]: : Polity Press. .

[CIT0003] Barton , L. (1996). , ed. . Disability and Society: Emerging Issues and Insights. , [city: Harlow]: : Longman. .

[CIT0004] Canterbery , R.E. (2000). . Wall Street Capitalism: the theory of the bondholding class. , [city: Singapore]: : World Scientific. .

[CIT0005] Charlton , J.I. (1998). . Nothing about Us without Us: Disability, Oppression and Empowerment. , [city: Berkeley]: : University of California Press. .

[CIT0006] Corker , M. (1998). . Deaf and Disabled, or Deafness Disabled?. , [city: Buckingham]: : Open University Press. .

[CIT0007] Corker , M. and French , S. (1999). , eds. . Disability Discourse. , [city: Buckingham]: : Open University Press. .

[CIT0008] Corker , M. and Shakespeare , T. (2002). , eds. . Disability/Postmodernity: Embodying Disability Theory. , [city: London]: : Continuum. .

[CIT0009] Crow , L. (1996). . “Including all our lives: renewing the social model of disability. ”. In Exploring the Divide: Illness and Disability. , Edited by: Barnes , C. and Mercer , J. [city: Leeds]: : The Disability Press. .

[CIT0010] Finkelstein , V. (1980). . Attitudes and Disabled People: Issues for Discussion. , [city: New York]: : World Rehabilitation Fund. .

[CIT0011] Finkelstein , V. (2001). . A Personal Journey into Disability Politics. , The Disability Studies Archive UK, Centre for Disability Studies, University of Leeds. . http: //www.leeds,ac.uk/disability‐studies/archiveuk/archframe.htm.

[CIT0012] French , S. (1993). . “Disability, impairment or something in between?. ”. In Disabling Barriers ‐ Enabling Environments. , Edited by: Swain , J. , Finkelstein , V. , French , S. and Oliver , M. [city: London]: : Sage. .

[CIT0013] Gilpin , R. (2000). . The challenge of global capitalism: the world economy in the 21st century. , [city: Princeton], [state: N.J.]: : Princeton University Press. .

[CIT0014] Gleeson , B.J. (1999). . Geographies of Disability. , [city: London]: : Routledge. .

[CIT0015] Goodley , D. (2001). . ‘Learning Difficulties’, the Social Model of Disability and Impairment: challenging epistemologies. . Disability and Society. , 16((2)): : 207.–.

[CIT0016] Graham , H. (2002). . Building an interdisciplinary science of health inequalities: the example of lifecourse research. . Social Science and Medicine , 55: : 2005.–.

[CIT0017] Greider , W. (1997). . One world, ready or not: the manic logic of global capitalism. , [city: Hannondsworth]: : Penguin. .

[CIT0018] Hevey , D. (1992). . The Creatures Time Forget. , [city: London]: : Routledge. .

[CIT0019] Hughes , B. and Paterson , K. (1997). . The social model of disability and the disappearing body: towards a sociology of impairment. . Disability and Society , 12: : 325.–.

[CIT0020] Ingstad , B. (2001). . “Disability in the Developing World. ”. In Handbook of Disability Studies. , Edited by: Albrecht , G. , Seelman , K. and Bury , M. [city: London]: : Sage. .

[CIT0021] Morris , J. (1991). . Pride Against Prejudice: Transforming Attitudes to Disability. , [city: London]: : The Women's Press. .

[CIT0022] Morris , J. (1996). , ed. . Encounters With Strangers: Feminism and Disability. , [city: London]: : The Women's Press. .

[CIT0023] Oliver , M. (1990). . The Politics of Disablement. , [city: London]: : Macmillan. .

[CIT0024] Oliver , M. (1996). . Understanding Disability. , [city: London]: : Macmillan. .

[CIT0025] Paterson , K. (). Disabilty studies and phenomenology: finding a space for both the carnal and the political. . Paper presented to the British Sociological Association Conference. . April, , [city: Edinburgh].

[CIT0026] Pilger , J. (2002). . The New Rulers of the World. , [city: London]: : Verso. .

[CIT0027] Price , J. and Shildrick , M. (2002). . “Bodies Together: Touch, Ethics and Disability. ”. In Disability/Postmodernity: Embodying Disability Theory. , Edited by: Corker , M. and Shakespeare , T. [city: London]: : Continuum. .

[CIT0028] Priestley , M (2001). , ed. . Disability and the Life Course: Global Perspectives. , [city: Cambridge]: : Cambridge University Press. .

[CIT0029] Reeve , D. (2002). . Negotiating Psycho‐emotional Dimensions of Disability and their Influence on Identity Constructions. . Disability and Society , 17((5)): : 493.–.

[CIT0030] Roulstone , A. (1998). . Enabling Technology: disabled people, work and new technology. , [city: Buckingham]: : Open University Press. .

[CIT0031] Roulestone , A (2002). . . Disabling Pasts, Enabling Futures? How Does the Changing Nature of Capitalism Impact on the Disabled Worker and Jobseeker?. . Disability and Society , 17((6)): : 627.–.

[CIT0032] Sapey , B. (2000). . Disablement in the Informational Age. . Disability and Society , 15((4)): : 619.–.

[CIT0033] Shakespeare , T. (1997). . “Cultural Representation of Disabled People: dustbins of disavowal?. ”. In Disability Studies: Past, Present and Future. , Edited by: Barton , L. and Oliver , M. [city: Leeds]: : The Disability Press. .

[CIT0034] Shakespeare , T. and Watson , N. (2001). . “The Social Model of Disability: An Outdated Ideology?. ”. In Research on Social Science and Disability, Volume 2, Exploring Theories and Expanding Methodologies. , Volume 2, Elsevier Science Ltd.. .

[CIT0035] Stone , E. (1999). . Disability and development: learning from action and research on disability in the majority world. , [city: Leeds]: : The Disability Press. .

[CIT0036] Thomas , C. (1997). . The baby and the bathwater: disabled women and motherhood in social context. . Sociology of Health and Illness , 19((5)): : 622.–.

[CIT0037] Thomas , C. (1999). . Female Forms: experiencing and understanding disability. , [city: Buckingham]: : Open University Press. .

[CIT0038] Thomas , C. (2001). . “‘Feminism and Disability: The Theoretical and Political Significance of the Personal and the Experiential’. ”. In Disability, Politics and the Struggle for Change. , Edited by: Barton , L. [city: London]: : David Fulton Publications. .

[CIT0039] Thomas , C. (2002). . “Disability Theory: Key Ideas, Issues and Thinkers. ”. In Disability Studies Today. , Edited by: Barnes , C , Oliver , M. and Barton , L. [city: Cambridge]: : Polity Press. .

[CIT0040] Thomas , C. (2004). . “‘Developing the social relational in the social model of disability: a theoretical agenda’. ”. In The Social Model of Disability ‐ Theoiy and Research. , Edited by: Barnes , C. [city: Leeds]: : The Disability Press. .

[CIT0041] Traustadottir , R. (2003). 4–6 September 2003. “Gender and Disability Research in the Nordic Countries. Conference paper. ”. In Disability Studies: Theory, Policy and Practice. , 4–6 September 2003, UK: : Lancaster University. .

[CIT0042] UPIAS (1976). . . Fundamental Principles of Disability. , [city: London]: : Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation. .

[CIT0043] Williams , S. and Bendelow , G. (1998). . The Lived Body: Sociological Themes, Embodies Issues. , [city: London]: : Routledge. .

[CIT0044] Williams , S. (2001). . Emotion and Social Theory. , [city: London]: : Sage. .

Reading: Rescuing a social relational understanding of disability

Original Articles

Rescuing a social relational understanding of disability

Author:

Carol Thomas

Institute for Health Research at Lancaster University, UK, GB

About Carol

X close

Abstract

References