Social constructionism states that knowledge and meaning cannot exist outside of a social context. All our thoughts and beliefs, all that we know, has already been socially constructed. Thus we cannot know or understand things objectively, independently of social constraints. Further in regard to humans nothing can exist outside of society. When considering self-identity there is no objective or essential version of the self to reflect on, rather people construct a series of beliefs that constitute their view of the self through their interactions with people and the pre-existing ideas of society. Because all we can know about the self is socially constructed the self is itself socially constructed as it is only a collection of these socially
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However whilst it is clear that labels have an effect on the construction of identity, the nature of this effect is dependent on other beliefs and concepts that have already been constructed () including and importantly concepts of difference and disability. For example proponents of a medical model of disability may construct disability identity as helpless victims, where difference is viewed as deficiency, who are a burden to society which can lead to ‘anger, self-loathing, and daily experiences of rejection” (Shakespeare et al., 1996: 42-43), while adherents to the social model of disability often construct disability identity as an person oppressed by social structures and inequalities (Reeve, 2002) due to some physical or neuro-physical difference and an affirmative approach to disability may construct disability identity as a celebration of difference and a source of pride (Greenstein, 2013) Thus it is clear that construction of disability identity is effected in large part by concepts of difference and disability. So it could be suggested that labels themselves are not exclusive structures but it is certain concepts of disability and difference that lead them to be used in an exclusive capacity. Indeed the label ‘disabled’ will construct identity differently dependent on the concept this label is taken to represent. However
However whilst it is clear that labels have an effect on the construction of identity, the nature of this effect is dependent on other beliefs and concepts that have already been constructed () including and importantly concepts of difference and disability. For example proponents of a medical model of disability may construct disability identity as helpless victims, where difference is viewed as deficiency, who are a burden to society which can lead to ‘anger, self-loathing, and daily experiences of rejection” (Shakespeare et al., 1996: 42-43), while adherents to the social model of disability often construct disability identity as an person oppressed by social structures and inequalities (Reeve, 2002) due to some physical or neuro-physical difference and an affirmative approach to disability may construct disability identity as a celebration of difference and a source of pride (Greenstein, 2013) Thus it is clear that construction of disability identity is effected in large part by concepts of difference and disability. So it could be suggested that labels themselves are not exclusive structures but it is certain concepts of disability and difference that lead them to be used in an exclusive capacity. Indeed the label ‘disabled’ will construct identity differently dependent on the concept this label is taken to represent. However