Many people are not knowledgeable about ableism and what it means or refers to. Ableism refers to discrimination or prejudice against disabled people. Moreover, there are two types of ableism – physical ableism and mental ableism. Physical ableism is the hostility and prejudice against people with physical disabilities. Examples of this type are buildings and signs that are not accessible to disabled people. Mental ableism refers to the discrimination against neurodivergent or mentally ill people. An example of this is the romanticism of mental illnesses such as depression and BDP, which trivializes the intensity of mental illnesses. As predicted, ableism does take a toll on mental health. However, many are oblivious towards its detrimental effects, and many are unconsciously ableist. Like many oppressions, ableism is systemic, meaning that it is embedded in the system, leaving non-disabled people prone to being ableist.
How Does Ableism Worsen Mental Health?
As a result of ableism, studies have shown that disabled people are three times more likely to experience depression than non-disabled people. They are also inclined to experience higher levels of anxiety. Some may claim that the aforementioned facts are a result of difficulties and adversities that disabled people face because of the disability itself. This is proven to be false since empirical data substantiates that they endure horrendous mental health because of how society treats and perceives disabled people. No one can repudiate that disabled people do struggle, yet we, as a society, aggravate their struggles by stigmatizing them.
Disabled people Are Not Inspirational Objects
Disabled people are directly regarded as righteous and inspirational people because of their disability. Abled people think that disabled people need their pity. To avoid bafflement, disabled people being praised for solely being disabled is an epitome of ableism. Also, disabled people are compelled to always be an inspiration and always show the abled people how lucky they are for not being disabled. Furthermore, when a disabled person enters a room full of people, the initial anticipation is that they will grab a microphone and deliver such a motivational speech on how they “embarked on their arduous journey”.
How Society Back-Handedly Praises Disabled People
Sugarcoating their condition and calling them “people of determination” directly implies that their condition is not favored. This also praises them for just existing. The word “disabled” should be treated as a derogatory term or slur that degrades disabled people. Telling disabled people phrases such as “you are so brave” and “I could never live like that” is very discriminatory towards them since this is a direct implication that their lives revolve around melancholy and sadness. They are literally being told that they are very brave for tackling their disability. Disabled people do not need to tackle their disability. Their disability is a piece that complements them. Again, this is all evidence that the mental health of the disabled is deteriorated by the views and perceptions of this revolting society and not their disability.
Disabled people are not folklores or fairy tales for abled people in which they should teach them to be grateful for what they have because this, again, implies that their lives are very saddening. In her TED talk, Stella Young, a disabled woman, highlights the fact that she was applauded and praised for doing things that would not be considered unique or astonishing if she was not disabled. She also claims that disabled people are objectified since they are treated as objects of heroism to remind abled people to be grateful for everything. Once again, I assert that disabled people do not need the pity of the abled, for they want to be treated like everyone else.