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Discursive discrimination of the ‘mentally deficient’ in interwar Sweden
- Author:
- BOREUS Kristina
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 21(5), August 2006, pp.441-454.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article shows, firstly, one way in which discrimination in discourse, that is, discrimination performed through the use of language, can be studied with the help of a set of concepts: exclusion from discourse; negative other presentation; objectification; and proposals pointing towards unfavourable treatment. The concept of othering is also used. Secondly, an empirical study of the discursive treatment of people labelled ‘mentally deficient’ in interwar Sweden is presented. The parliamentary debate on a new sterilisation law, encyclopaedic entries and medical descriptions are focused. The results reveal that the group in question was blatantly discriminated against, by means of all of the forms of discursive discrimination mentioned, and was also othered. It is suggested that the set of concepts could be useful for comparative studies of discursive treatment of people categorised as ‘mentally deficient’ in other countries during the same period and for studies of possible contemporary discrimination.