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The identities and social roles of people with an intellectual disability: challenging dominant cultural worldviews, values and mythologies
- Authors:
- DOROZENKO Kate P., ROBERTS Lynne D., BISHOP Brian J.
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 30(9), 2015, pp.1345-1364.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Intellectual disability is commonly conceptualised as stigmatised identity with which one has to live. However, within the literature the notion of a damaged identity is contested. The aim of this research was to explore the social construction of intellectual disability, with an emphasis on the identities and social roles of people with an intellectual disability. Informed by a contextualist perspective, this research was conducted within a participatory framework. The co-researchers involved in this research were 18 members of an advocacy agency. Photovoice and conversational interviewing were used to collect data and causal layered analysis was used to deconstruct the data. Analysis of the interactions that emerged across the causal layers revealed a complex dynamic of worldviews which served to construct people with an intellectual disability as incompetent, inherently different and not quite human. For genuine, transformative change to occur, developing an awareness and understanding of social processes, such as dehumanisation, is crucial. (Publisher abstract)
Imposed identities and limited opportunities: advocacy agency staff perspectives on the construction of their clients with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- DOROZENKO Kate P., ROBERTS Lynne D., BISHOP Brian J.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 19(3), 2015, pp.282-299.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Intellectual disability is commonly conceptualised as stigmatised identity; however, within the literature, the notion of a damaged identity is contested. The aim of this research was to explore the social construction of intellectual disability from the perspective of staff who work closely with people with intellectual disabilities. Informed by a contextualist perspective, this research was based on interviews with five staff members of an advocacy agency in a regional area of Australia. Causal layered analysis was used to deconstruct the interview data. Analysis of the interactions that emerged across the causal layers revealed a complex dynamic of world views, which served to dehumanise people with intellectual disabilities and blame them for their own fate (victim blaming). For transformative change to occur, understandings of the ‘problems’ of intellectual disability must be reformulated and those social structures and processes that support the relationship between the powerful and the powerless must be challenged. (Publisher abstract)