Feeling disability: theories of affect and critical disability studies

Abstract

This paper explores connections between affect studies and critical disability studies. Our interest in affect is sparked by the beginnings of a new research project that seeks to illuminate the lives, hopes and desires of young people with 'life-limiting' or 'life-threatening' impairments. Cultural responses to these young people are shaped by dominant discourses associated with lives lived well and long. Before commencing our empirical work with young people we use this paper to think through how we might conceptualise affect and disability. We present three themes; ontological invalidation in neoliberal-able times; affect aliens and crip killjoys; disability and resistant assemblages.

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“…This oppression is called ableism, defined by Hodge (2013) as ‘a network of beliefs, processes, and practices that cast disability as a diminished state of being human’ (p. 108). Ableism is embedded in structures which assume normativity, negatively impacting persons with disabilities, making them invisible in society (Goodley, Liddiard, & Runswick‐Cole, 2018). Furthermore, expectation of ability and judgement based on abilities, ingrained and overlooked in society perpetuate ableism, drive disabled persons to the outskirts of society (Goodley et al, 2018; Wolbring, 2008).…”

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“…First is the assumption that the Eurocentric humanist model of the human is at the base of the process of invention and legitimization of the divide between able-bodied and disabled bodies (Roets and Braidotti 2012). Such representation would be crystallized as the golden standard to which we should all aspire and address: 'the unitary, rational, independent, dislocated, solitary, able-bodied human subject' (Goodley, Lawthom & Runswick-Cole 2014: 344), which is a contingent and unstable cultural invention with semiotic and material consequences (Goodley, Liddiard & Runswick-Cole 2018). Second is the recognition of disability as an unstable category, emerging amid changing semiotic and material conditions.…”

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“…Disability is the result of established concepts, language, and institutional structures that give "ableist" power to nondisabled people, and both marginalize and discriminate against people with disabilities (Procknow, Rocco, & Munn, 2017). Critical disability theory further holds that overt action needs to be taken to redress this wrongful conceptual and power imbalance (Goodley, Liddiard, & Runswick-Cole, 2018). Reaume (2014Reaume ( , p. 1248 wrote, "In the emergent field of critical disability studies…[people's] experiences…are understood in the context of the barriers society placed on the[m]…-barriers that served to pathologize, confine and ostracize them.…”

“…To achieve these objectives, we need to confront the true intent of our current conceptualization of disability and our power structures. For example, treating disability as something that requires support and accommodation only functions to continue to pathologize it (Goodley et al, ), while changing the lens to providing environments that enhance quality of life for every citizen and to value the experience and contribution of every citizen functions to expand empowerment, equality, and emancipation. These objectives go beyond merely accepting and tolerating disability, and rather see disability as a positive contributor to human diversity that merits celebration (Campbell, ).…”