Overview
Over the past thirty years, the field of disability studies has emerged from the political activism of disabled people. In this challenging re-evaluation, leading disability academic and activist Tom Shakespeare now argues that social model theory has reached a dead end. Drawing on a critical realist perspective, Shakespeare promotes a pluralist, engaged and nuanced approach to disability. Rather than rejecting research in medical sociology, bioethics and social care, disability studies needs to re-engage with the fundamental questions of what disability is, and how the lives of disabled people can be improved. Topics discussed include: dichotomies - the dangerous polarisations of medical model versus social model, impairment versus disability and disabled people versus non-disabled people, identity - the drawbacks of the disability movement's emphasis on identity politics bioethics in disability - choices at the beginning and end of life, and in the field of genetic and stem cell therapies, care and social relationships - questions of intimacy, friendship and the role of nondisabled people.This stimulating and accessible book challenges British disability studies orthodoxies, and promotes a fresh research agenda. It will be required reading for researchers and students in disability studies, medical sociology and social care, and will have applications for professionals, policy-makers and activists.
About the Author:
Tom Shakespeare has taught and researched sociology at the Universities of Cambridge, Sunderland, Leeds and Newcastle
Synopsis
Over the last thirty years, the field of disability studies has emerged from the political activism of disabled people. In this challenging review of the field, leading disability academic and activist Tom Shakespeare argues that the social model theory has reached a dead end.
Drawing on a critical realist perspective, Shakespeare promotes a pluralist, engaged and nuanced approach to disability. Key topics discussed include:
- dichotomies - the dangerous polarizations of medical model versus social model, impairment versus disability and disabled people versus non-disabled people
- identity - the drawbacks of the disability movement's emphasis on identity politics
- bioethics in disability - choices at the beginning and end of life and in the field of genetic and stem cell therapies
- care and social relationships - questions of intimacy and friendship.
This stimulating and accessible book challenges orthodoxies in British disability studies, promoting a new conceptualization of disability and fresh research agenda. It is an invaluable resource for researchers and students in disability studies and sociology, as well as professionals, policy makers and activists.
Editorials
From the Publisher
'Tom Shakespeare has produced a work of mature scholarship that advances our thinking about the fundamental issues in Disability Studies. The clarity and balance of his argument challenges others to raise the level of discourse in the field. Disability Rights and Wrongs is a must read.' - Gary L. Albrecht, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
'In his characteristically polemical and thought-provoking style, Tom Shakespeare presents a call to arms against the British social model of disability. Love it or loathe it, there is much in this book to stimulate debate in disability studies and the wider social science community. The reader is taken into familiar territory as well as into areas little explored in disability studies to date. Challenges are thrown up at every turn. Do Shakespeare’s arguments hold up? You be the judge.' - Carol Thomas, Institute for Health Research, Lancaster University, UK
'Galileo was roundly condemned for daring to question the orthodoxy of the day, even though he was right. Tom Shakespeare also challenges orthodoxy concerning disability theory and studies. No cow is sacred and as a result this book will be controversial. But his arguments demand consideration and deep thought. If you read only one book on disability rights this year, make this the book.' - Bert Massie, Disability Rights Commission, UK
'This thought-provoking and interesting book challenges conventional views in relation to disability studies...a valuable resource to students of disability studies, practitioners as well as other professionals who work with disabled people.' - Angela Clarke, Therapy Today