Written by Nora Lane
We use rhetoric every day unconsciously discussing our talking points on social media, politics, movies, and other wide variety of subjects. However, when approaching more delicate subjects at hand such as Women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and Disability the lines of reasoning and understanding become blurred. In the case of disability, rhetoric has a deep-rooted history that needs to be dissected and properly analyzed as to why Disability Rhetoric should be respected and understood in its entirety.
Two hands reach out to one another in front of the sky. The is a lush green tree at the bottom right
What is rhetoric and why is it so important? In the book, The Beginning of Disability, Chapter 4 “Disability is seen as the powerful use of communication to shape identity, community, cultural processes, art, and everyday life.” Rhetoric is such a powerful tool that if used incorrectly or, used as a weapon it can cause create a negative appearance of any particular person, or group of people. In the case of disability, there is a deep-rooted wound on the subject of rhetoric. Not only has it increased stigmatism around the subject of disability but, it has created the use of ableist language that has tarnished the true reality of what disability is.
Let us look at person-first, disability-first rhetoric, and compensation rhetoric. When a person with a disability has achieved a great career how exactly do you view that person? For instants Steven Hawking, he is a world-renowned English theoretical physicist who is known for his contribution to science through his proof of radiation emitted from black holes. But how is preserved by his peers or by the non-disabled? Is he an English theoretical physicist who is also disabled, or is he a disabled English theoretical physicist? And why is so important? Person-first rhetoric applies that the individual is acknowledged first followed by their disability, and disability-first rhetoric applies the opposite, meaning you acknowledge the disability first, followed by the individual last. We must keep in mind that people with disabilities may have their own perception of who they are and how they choose to define their representation of their own disability.
Rhetoric can be used as a weapon and not in the way we may be particularly used to seeing. For example, we have all heard the term “If I can do it, you can do it too”. It’s a simple saying but, it’s very out of touch and unrealistic about the various circumstances that others may have to go through to just meet such expectations. Do they share the same disability? Do they share the same economic or social economic background? How severe is their diagnosis? These are the circumstance we must be careful about before divesting certain talking points. Then, of course, we are aware of the infamous R word that was used for “comedy” purposes to refer to someone who is intellectually delayed. For those who may support the term, it is possible that you may not see the significance of why the word is offensive”. But how would you feel if your diagnosis was the punchline to every joke, and then used against people who behave just like you? Without realizing you have harmed the very same community you should support and respect. Instead of pushing back and reacting, why not analyze the situation from a different perspective other than your own? Keep in mind other factors that care from negative rhetoric on the disabled community like freak shows, eugenics, and political terminology that was used to dehumanize and separate the disabled community, from the rest of society.
Young white child with a low cut screaming into an old studio microphone
Rhetoric is a powerful tool, and we should pay attention to how we use it. We should also keep in mind that the words we use may contain more historical and social significance whether we understand it or not. It is required as human beings, that we all use our words selectively and with care and consideration to those around us. Because our words have more weight than we may be aware of.
Sources:
Davis, Lennard J. Beginning With Disabilty: A Primer. Routledge, 2017.
“Starchild: Dr. Stephen Hawking.” NASA, NASA, https://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/whos_who_level2/hawking.html#:~:text=Hawking%20is%20best%20known%20for,England%20on%20January%208%2C%201942.
Naddam, Youssef. “Reaching Out.” Unsplash.Com, 11 Nov. 2018, unsplash.com/photos/iJ2IG8ckCpA. Accessed 15 Feb. 2023.
Rosewell, Jason. “Screaming Boy.” Unsplash.Com, 25 Jan. 2016, unsplash.com/photos/ASKeuOZqhYU. Accessed 15 Feb. 2023.
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