Search engine for discovering works of Art, research articles, and books related to Art and Culture
ShareThis
Javascript must be enabled to continue!

Unveiling the Disability A Study of Social Discrimination in Contemporary American Memoires

View through CrossRef
The study aims to explore social discrimination as experienced by disabled persons and depicted in contemporary American memoirs by the disabled person. It investigates the effects of stigmatization and negative stereotypes as experienced by disabled persons in their memoirs, which further trigger social discrimination in contemporary societies. By examining these memoirs, the research aims to shed light on the societal challenges faced by disabled persons and contribute to a broader understanding of disability in the social context, with special reference to “Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harward Law” by Haben Girma (2019). The research is carried out according to the theoretical perspectives of Dr. Dana S. Dunn (2015) by employing the “Qualitative Textual Analysis Technique”. The study reveals that negative stereotypes, attitudes, and stigmatization often result in social discrimination of disabled persons. Social discrimination further leads to psychological discrimination despite various anti-discrimination laws enforced for decades in the United States. It also sheds light on the measures taken by disabled persons to overcome the negative impacts of social discrimination in practical life. References Adams, R. (2013). Disability studies now. American Literary History, 25(2), 495–507. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43817582 Bhabha, H. (1992). Third world and postcolonial issues. Duke University Press. Connor, D. J., Gabel, S. L., Gallagher, D. J., & Morton, M. (2008). Disability studies and inclusive education: Implications for theory, research, and practice. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 12(5–6), 441–457. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603110802377582 Couser, G. T., & Mairs, N. (1997). Recovering bodies: Illness, disability, and life writing. University of Wisconsin Press. Davis, J. (2013). Disability, life narrative, and representation. In L. J. Davis (Ed.), The disability studies reader (pp. 19–463). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203077887-44 Dovidio, J. F. (2010). The SAGE handbook of prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination. SAGE. Dunn, D. S. (2015). The social psychology of disability. Oxford University Press. Elwan, A. (1999). Poverty and disability: A survey of the literature. Social Protection, World Bank. Fine, M., & Asch, A. (1988). Disability beyond stigma: Social interaction, discrimination, and activism. Journal of Social Issues, 44(1), 3–21. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1988.tb02045.x Garland-Thomson, R. (2017). Building a world with disability in it. In A. Waldschmidt, H. Berressem, & M. Ingwersen (Eds.), Culture – Theory – Disability: Encounters between disability studies and cultural studies (pp. 51–62). Transcript Verlag. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv1xxs3r.8 Gill, C. J., Mukherjee, S., Garland‐Thomson, R., & Mukherjee, D. (2016). Disability stigma in rehabilitation. PM&R, 8(10), 997–1003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2016.08.028 Gilmore, L. (2016). The life of the body in American autobiography: The year in the US. Biography, 39(4), 674–680. https://doi.org/10.1353/bio.2016.0081 Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity. Simon & Schuster. Green, J. (1972). Binky Brown meets the Holy Virgin Mary. McSweeney’s. Gruskin, S., & Tarantola, D. (2008). Universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care: Assessing the inclusion of human rights in international and national strategic plans. AIDS, 22(Suppl 2), S123–S132. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.aids.0000327444.51408.21 Haanes, G. G., Hall, E. O. C., & Eilertsen, G. (2019). Acceptance and adjustment: A qualitative study of experiences of hearing and vision impairments and daily life among oldest old recipients of home care. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 14(3), e12236. https://doi.org/10.1111/opn.12236 Heller, T. (2019). Bridging ageing and intellectual/developmental disabilities in research, policy, and practice. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 16(1), 53–57. https://doi.org/10.1111/jppi.12263 Heumann, J., & Joiner, K. (2020). Being Heumann: An unrepentant memoir of a disability rights activist. Random House. Hunt, P. (1966). Stigma: The experience of disability. Chapman. Hussey, J., & Hussey, R. (1997). Searching the literature. In Business research (pp. 82–113). Palgrave. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-25262-6_4 Jawaid, A., Batool, M., Arshad, W., ul Haq, M. I., Kaur, P., & Sanaullah, S. (2025). AI AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING OUTCOMES. Contemporary Journal of Social Science Review, 3(1), 927-935. https://contemporaryjournal.com/index. php/14/article/view/387 Jawaid, A., Batool, M., Arshad, W., ul Haq, M. I., Kaur, P., & Arshad, S. (2025). ENGLISH LANGUAGE VOCABULARY BUILDING TRENDS IN STUDENTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND A CASE OF LAHORE, PAKISTAN. Contemporary Journal of Social Science Review, 3(1), 730-737. https://contemporaryjournal.com/index.php/14/article/view/360 Johnson, H. M. (2013). Too late to die young: Nearly true tales from a life. Henry Holt. Lalvani, P. (2012). Parents’ participation in special education in the context of implicit educational ideologies and socioeconomic status. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 47(4), 474–486. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23879640 Lionnet, F. (1989). Autoethnography: The an-archic style of Dust tracks on a road. In Autobiographical voices: Race, gender, self-portraiture (pp. 97–129). Cornell University Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt207g5zp.10 Marini, I. (2018). The psychological and social impact of illness and disability. Springer. Mitchell, D. T., & Snyder, S. L. (2001). Narrative prosthesis: Disability and the dependencies of discourse. University of Michigan Press. https://doi.org/10.3998/mpub.11523 Mooney, J. (2020). Normal sucks: How to live, learn, and thrive outside the lines. St. Martin’s Griffin. Nario-Redmond, M. R. (2020). Ableism: The causes and consequences of disability prejudice. Wiley Blackwell. Rose, I. (2008). Autistic autobiography or autistic life narrative? Journal of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies, 2(1), 44–54. https://doi.org/10.3828/jlcds.2.1.6 Sachs, A. (2015). The soft vengeance of a freedom fighter. University of California Press. Sahu, K., & Sahu, S. (2015). Attitudinal barriers experienced by people with disabilities. Journal of Disability Studies, 1(1), 1–2. Sendi, R. (2014). A social innovation for combating discrimination against persons with disabilities in the built environment. Urbani Izziv, 25(2), 119–129. https://doi.org/10.5379/urbani-izziv-en-2014-25-02-004 Siebers, T. (2008). Disability theory. University of Michigan Press. https://doi.org/10.3998/mpub.309723United Nations. (2018). UN flagship report on disability and development 2018: Realization of the sustainable development goals by, for and with persons with disabilities. https://repository.gheli.harvard.edu/repository/12797
Title: Unveiling the Disability A Study of Social Discrimination in Contemporary American Memoires
Description:
The study aims to explore social discrimination as experienced by disabled persons and depicted in contemporary American memoirs by the disabled person.
It investigates the effects of stigmatization and negative stereotypes as experienced by disabled persons in their memoirs, which further trigger social discrimination in contemporary societies.
By examining these memoirs, the research aims to shed light on the societal challenges faced by disabled persons and contribute to a broader understanding of disability in the social context, with special reference to “Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harward Law” by Haben Girma (2019).
The research is carried out according to the theoretical perspectives of Dr.
Dana S.
Dunn (2015) by employing the “Qualitative Textual Analysis Technique”.
The study reveals that negative stereotypes, attitudes, and stigmatization often result in social discrimination of disabled persons.
Social discrimination further leads to psychological discrimination despite various anti-discrimination laws enforced for decades in the United States.
It also sheds light on the measures taken by disabled persons to overcome the negative impacts of social discrimination in practical life.
References Adams, R.
(2013).
Disability studies now.
American Literary History, 25(2), 495–507.
http://www.
jstor.
org/stable/43817582 Bhabha, H.
(1992).
Third world and postcolonial issues.
Duke University Press.
Connor, D.
J.
, Gabel, S.
L.
, Gallagher, D.
J.
, & Morton, M.
(2008).
Disability studies and inclusive education: Implications for theory, research, and practice.
International Journal of Inclusive Education, 12(5–6), 441–457.
https://doi.
org/10.
1080/13603110802377582 Couser, G.
T.
, & Mairs, N.
(1997).
Recovering bodies: Illness, disability, and life writing.
University of Wisconsin Press.
Davis, J.
(2013).
Disability, life narrative, and representation.
In L.
J.
Davis (Ed.
), The disability studies reader (pp.
19–463).
Routledge.
https://doi.
org/10.
4324/9780203077887-44 Dovidio, J.
F.
(2010).
The SAGE handbook of prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination.
SAGE.
Dunn, D.
S.
(2015).
The social psychology of disability.
Oxford University Press.
Elwan, A.
(1999).
Poverty and disability: A survey of the literature.
Social Protection, World Bank.
Fine, M.
, & Asch, A.
(1988).
Disability beyond stigma: Social interaction, discrimination, and activism.
Journal of Social Issues, 44(1), 3–21.
https://doi.
org/10.
1111/j.
1540-4560.
1988.
tb02045.
x Garland-Thomson, R.
(2017).
Building a world with disability in it.
In A.
Waldschmidt, H.
Berressem, & M.
Ingwersen (Eds.
), Culture – Theory – Disability: Encounters between disability studies and cultural studies (pp.
51–62).
Transcript Verlag.
http://www.
jstor.
org/stable/j.
ctv1xxs3r.
8 Gill, C.
J.
, Mukherjee, S.
, Garland‐Thomson, R.
, & Mukherjee, D.
(2016).
Disability stigma in rehabilitation.
PM&R, 8(10), 997–1003.
https://doi.
org/10.
1016/j.
pmrj.
2016.
08.
028 Gilmore, L.
(2016).
The life of the body in American autobiography: The year in the US.
Biography, 39(4), 674–680.
https://doi.
org/10.
1353/bio.
2016.
0081 Goffman, E.
(1963).
Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity.
Simon & Schuster.
Green, J.
(1972).
Binky Brown meets the Holy Virgin Mary.
McSweeney’s.
Gruskin, S.
, & Tarantola, D.
(2008).
Universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care: Assessing the inclusion of human rights in international and national strategic plans.
AIDS, 22(Suppl 2), S123–S132.
https://doi.
org/10.
1097/01.
aids.
0000327444.
51408.
21 Haanes, G.
G.
, Hall, E.
O.
C.
, & Eilertsen, G.
(2019).
Acceptance and adjustment: A qualitative study of experiences of hearing and vision impairments and daily life among oldest old recipients of home care.
International Journal of Older People Nursing, 14(3), e12236.
https://doi.
org/10.
1111/opn.
12236 Heller, T.
(2019).
Bridging ageing and intellectual/developmental disabilities in research, policy, and practice.
Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 16(1), 53–57.
https://doi.
org/10.
1111/jppi.
12263 Heumann, J.
, & Joiner, K.
(2020).
Being Heumann: An unrepentant memoir of a disability rights activist.
Random House.
Hunt, P.
(1966).
Stigma: The experience of disability.
Chapman.
Hussey, J.
, & Hussey, R.
(1997).
Searching the literature.
In Business research (pp.
82–113).
Palgrave.
https://doi.
org/10.
1007/978-1-349-25262-6_4 Jawaid, A.
, Batool, M.
, Arshad, W.
, ul Haq, M.
I.
, Kaur, P.
, & Sanaullah, S.
(2025).
AI AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING OUTCOMES.
 Contemporary Journal of Social Science Review, 3(1), 927-935.
https://contemporaryjournal.
com/index.
php/14/article/view/387 Jawaid, A.
, Batool, M.
, Arshad, W.
, ul Haq, M.
I.
, Kaur, P.
, & Arshad, S.
(2025).
ENGLISH LANGUAGE VOCABULARY BUILDING TRENDS IN STUDENTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND A CASE OF LAHORE, PAKISTAN.
 Contemporary Journal of Social Science Review, 3(1), 730-737.
https://contemporaryjournal.
com/index.
php/14/article/view/360 Johnson, H.
M.
(2013).
Too late to die young: Nearly true tales from a life.
Henry Holt.
Lalvani, P.
(2012).
Parents’ participation in special education in the context of implicit educational ideologies and socioeconomic status.
Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 47(4), 474–486.
http://www.
jstor.
org/stable/23879640 Lionnet, F.
(1989).
Autoethnography: The an-archic style of Dust tracks on a road.
In Autobiographical voices: Race, gender, self-portraiture (pp.
97–129).
Cornell University Press.
http://www.
jstor.
org/stable/10.
7591/j.
ctt207g5zp.
10 Marini, I.
(2018).
The psychological and social impact of illness and disability.
Springer.
Mitchell, D.
T.
, & Snyder, S.
L.
(2001).
Narrative prosthesis: Disability and the dependencies of discourse.
University of Michigan Press.
https://doi.
org/10.
3998/mpub.
11523 Mooney, J.
(2020).
Normal sucks: How to live, learn, and thrive outside the lines.
St.
Martin’s Griffin.
Nario-Redmond, M.
R.
(2020).
Ableism: The causes and consequences of disability prejudice.
Wiley Blackwell.
Rose, I.
(2008).
Autistic autobiography or autistic life narrative? Journal of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies, 2(1), 44–54.
https://doi.
org/10.
3828/jlcds.
2.
1.
6 Sachs, A.
(2015).
The soft vengeance of a freedom fighter.
University of California Press.
Sahu, K.
, & Sahu, S.
(2015).
Attitudinal barriers experienced by people with disabilities.
Journal of Disability Studies, 1(1), 1–2.
Sendi, R.
(2014).
A social innovation for combating discrimination against persons with disabilities in the built environment.
Urbani Izziv, 25(2), 119–129.
https://doi.
org/10.
5379/urbani-izziv-en-2014-25-02-004 Siebers, T.
(2008).
Disability theory.
University of Michigan Press.
https://doi.
org/10.
3998/mpub.
309723United Nations.
(2018).
UN flagship report on disability and development 2018: Realization of the sustainable development goals by, for and with persons with disabilities.
https://repository.
gheli.
harvard.
edu/repository/12797.

Related Results

Disability Studies
Disability Studies
This article brings together key texts and theorists from disability studies, which is a growing and vibrant inter/multidisciplinary field. It is an area of inquiry that has been e...
Food Studies and Disability Justice
Food Studies and Disability Justice
Robust scholarship at the intersection of disability studies and food studies is rare. Disability scholars who study and write about experiences of disabled people in relation to f...
Where Is Disability in Global Public Health?
Where Is Disability in Global Public Health?
Accounting for about 15% of the world’s population, persons with disabilities constitute a critical population. Despite a substantial knowledge base in disability and public health...
The functional disability of the elderly in tambon Krabi-noi Muang district, Krabi province, Thailand
The functional disability of the elderly in tambon Krabi-noi Muang district, Krabi province, Thailand
This research investigates the functional disability of the elderly residents of Tambon Krabi-noi, Muang district, Krabi province in 2005 and aims to explore (1) the prevalence of ...

Back to Top