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Navigating Competency in an Ableist World: The Lived Experiences of Disabled Individuals in Education and the Workplace

Author

Listed:
  • Deepti Sharma

    (Ahmedabad University
    Indian Institute of Management)

  • Ganesh N. Prabhu

    (Indian Institute of Management Bangalore)

Abstract

In this paper, we use the competency labor framework to examine how individuals with disabilities ‘fit in’ their mainstream education and early work contexts. Competency labor is an impression management tactic that regulates one’s perception of competency using cognitive, affective, and behavioral aspects to project competence within societal norms and display rules. We draw on longitudinal interview data collected over 3 years (late 2019 to early 2023) on the lived experiences of eight individuals with disabilities, from their initial encounters with disability as recalled, to their real-time experiences in a top-ranked business school and early work contexts. Despite being seen as less competent in their initial years, they showcased their competence through performance-based counters to ableism and by pivoting on their mind–body differences. The study uncovers the emotional (fear, anxiety) aspects of being perceived as less competent, causing internalized microaggressions. By covering three life phases and transitions, this research illuminates how individuals with disabilities employ competency labor strategies to fit into different ableist contexts over time. The study offers theoretical and practical insights for organizations, suggesting that individuals with disabilities can enhance their on-the-job self-efficacy and be more competitive, without requiring additional accommodations, thus maintaining an illusion of inclusivity in colonial environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Deepti Sharma & Ganesh N. Prabhu, 2025. "Navigating Competency in an Ableist World: The Lived Experiences of Disabled Individuals in Education and the Workplace," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 201(4), pages 859-893, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:201:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-025-05958-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-025-05958-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Oana Branzei & Anica Zeyen & Susanne M. Bruyère & Eline Jammaers & Nidhi Singal & Gregor Wolbring, 2025. "Ethical Dilemmas of Disability Inclusion—Emerging Ethics of Activism and Care: Introduction to the Special Issue," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 201(4), pages 781-795, November.

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