IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/socpsy/v66y2020i5p424-430.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

To be able, or disable, that is the question: A critical discussion on how language affects the stigma and self-determination in people with parability

Author

Listed:
  • S. Bentolhoda Mousavi
  • Dusica Lecic-Tosevski
  • Hassan Khalili
  • S. Zeinab Mousavi

Abstract

Background: Despite several fruitful attempts in destigmatization, disability is still associated with stigma. The role of language, especially when addressing a disabling condition and people, has been the matter of social as well as scientific debates. This article poses an intriguing question about the language we apply when addressing people and disability. Method: A narrative review of different models of disability with the emphasis on how labels and more generally language affect identity formation, and the extendibility of positive psychology concepts on the field of disability studies. Results: In this theoretical paper, the authors suggest that the term disability per se is contributing to increasing the stigma and has disempowering effect. Considering previous evidence from different lines of literature, the authors suggest a new approach of destigmatization, namely changing the term disability to a less stigmatizing one. Moreover, the authors discuss some theories to support this perspective. Conclusion: Replacing ‘dis’ in ‘disability’ with the prefix ‘para’ in the term ‘Para-ability’ is suggested.

Suggested Citation

  • S. Bentolhoda Mousavi & Dusica Lecic-Tosevski & Hassan Khalili & S. Zeinab Mousavi, 2020. "To be able, or disable, that is the question: A critical discussion on how language affects the stigma and self-determination in people with parability," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(5), pages 424-430, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:66:y:2020:i:5:p:424-430
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764020913308
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0020764020913308
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/0020764020913308?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Taleporos, George & McCabe, Marita P, 2002. "Body image and physical disability--personal perspectives," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 54(6), pages 971-980, March.
    2. Albrecht, Gary L. & Devlieger, Patrick J., 1999. "The disability paradox: high quality of life against all odds," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 48(8), pages 977-988, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Anita Hubley & Lara Russell & Anita Palepu & Stephen Hwang, 2014. "Subjective Quality of Life Among Individuals who are Homeless: A Review of Current Knowledge," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 115(1), pages 509-524, January.
    2. Aujoulat, Isabelle & Marcolongo, Renzo & Bonadiman, Leopoldo & Deccache, Alain, 2008. "Reconsidering patient empowerment in chronic illness: A critique of models of self-efficacy and bodily control," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(5), pages 1228-1239, March.
    3. Bruce C. Martin & Benson Honig, 2020. "Inclusive Management Research: Persons with Disabilities and Self-Employment Activity as an Exemplar," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 166(3), pages 553-575, October.
    4. Octave Jokung & Serge Macé, 2013. "Long-term health investment when people underestimate their adaptation to old age-related health problems," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 14(6), pages 1003-1013, December.
    5. Thébaut, Clémence, 2013. "Dealing with moral dilemma raised by adaptive preferences in health technology assessment: The example of growth hormones and bilateral cochlear implants," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 102-109.
    6. Astrid Wahl & Tone Rustøen & Berit Hanestad & Eva Gjengedal & Torbjørn Moum, 2005. "Self-Efficacy, Pulmonary Function, Perceived Health and Global Quality of Life of Cystic Fibrosis Patients," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 72(2), pages 239-261, June.
    7. Chen, Duan-Rung & Chang, Ly-Yun & Yang, Meng-Li, 2008. "Gender-specific responses to social determinants associated with self-perceived health in Taiwan: A multilevel approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(10), pages 1630-1640, November.
    8. Natalia Golini & Viviana Egidi, 2016. "The Latent Dimensions of Poor Self-Rated Health: How Chronic Diseases, Functional and Emotional Dimensions Interact Influencing Self-Rated Health in Italian Elderly," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 128(1), pages 321-339, August.
    9. Thomas Butt & Adnan Tufail & Gary Rubin, 2017. "Health State Utility Values for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Review and Advice," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 23-32, February.
    10. Banister, David & Bowling, Ann, 2004. "Quality of life for the elderly: the transport dimension," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 11(2), pages 105-115, April.
    11. Carole Bonnet & Sandrine Juin & Anne Laferrère, 2019. "Private Financing of Long‑Term Care: Income, Savings and Reverse Mortgages," Economie et Statistique / Economics and Statistics, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques (INSEE), issue 507-508, pages 5-24.
    12. Alison Dougall & Francisca Martinez Pereira & Gustavo Molina & Caroline Eschevins & Blánaid Daly & Denise Faulks, 2018. "Identifying common factors of functioning, participation and environment amongst adults requiring specialist oral health care using the International Classification of Functioning, disability and heal," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(7), pages 1-17, July.
    13. Freedman, Vicki A. & Stafford, Frank & Schwarz, Norbert & Conrad, Frederick & Cornman, Jennifer C., 2012. "Disability, participation, and subjective wellbeing among older couples," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(4), pages 588-596.
    14. Marchesano, Katia & Musella, Marco, 2020. "Does volunteer work affect life satisfaction of participants with chronic functional limitations? An empirical investigation," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    15. Schünemann, Johannes & Strulik, Holger & Trimborn, Timo, 2017. "Going from bad to worse: Adaptation to poor health health spending, longevity, and the value of life," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 130-146.
    16. Demianova, Anna & Lukiyanova, Anna, 2016. "The impact of disability status on labor supply in Russia," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 44, pages 50-74.
    17. Ann Bowling & Zahava Gabriel, 2004. "An Integrational Model of Quality of Life in Older Age. Results from the ESRC/MRC HSRC Quality of Life Survey in Britain," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 69(1), pages 1-36, October.
    18. Timmermans, Stefan & Tietbohl, Caroline, 2018. "Fifty years of sociological leadership at Social Science and Medicine," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 209-215.
    19. Chia-Huei Wu & Chin-Yu Wu, 2008. "Life satisfaction in persons with schizophrenia living in the community," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 85(3), pages 447-460, February.
    20. Gregory, Jane & Gibson, Barry & Robinson, Peter G., 2005. "Variation and change in the meaning of oral health related quality of life: a 'grounded' systems approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(8), pages 1859-1868, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:66:y:2020:i:5:p:424-430. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.