Cause And Effect Essay On Ableism

Effects of Ableism Ableism is the societally constructed system of oppression of disabled people in favor of able ones. The effects of an ableist society, though vast, aren’t always visible to the privileged, but include physical barriers, workplace discrimination and high unemployment rates, and an elevated crime rate against the disabled. In our society, being of able body and mind is considered the “norm”, which often facilitates the dehumanization of those who don’t fit that categorization. Our world is structured to accommodate the “average” citizen, while disregarding the basic needs of the disabled. Meanwhile, an estimated one in five Americans suffer from a disability, be it physical or cognitive. These people are in turn barred from …show more content…
Because of generalizations made against and isolation forced upon disabled people, they are restricted physically, seen as incompetent and undesirable in the job market, and are brutally victimized at a much higher rate than their peers. Ableism is present in a lot of forms, many of them indirect and often completely free of intention. This all begins, however, with a mindset. For example, types of discrimination commonly normalized, like using slurs such as “ret*rded” in negative lights, reinforce the reduction of the recognized worth of those who struggle with cognitive disabilities. Through small and seemingly meaningless ignorance like this, the seeds of ableist ideals are spread to the minds of others. These seeds develop into the systematic oppression of the disabled, through stereotypes, physical and career-based barriers, and violence. Awareness of one’s words, preconceived typecasts, and discriminatory actions is the sole force against a society who views some individuals as less worthy and less