ableism
ableism
Pronunciation
ableism (əˈbeɪlɪzəm)
ə (schwa): a mid central vowel sound, like the "uh" sound in "but"
ˈb (voiced bilabial plosive): the "b" sound at the beginning of "boy"
eɪ (diphthong): a combination sound starting with the "ay" sound in "say" and ending with the "ee" sound in "see"
l (voiced alveolar lateral approximant): the "l" sound in "like"
ɪ (near-close near-front unrounded vowel): a short "ih" sound like in "bit"
z (voiced alveolar fricative): the "z" sound in "zebra"
əm (syllabic nasal): a combination of a schwa sound and an "m" sound, like the final sound in "rhythm"
Word Form Variations
The word for "ableism" does not have any morphological variations. It remains the same across singular and plural forms. However, some related terms are:
ableist (adjective): describes something that is discriminatory or prejudiced against people with disabilities.
ableistic (adjective): similar to ableist.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun:
Ableism: Discrimination and social prejudice against people with physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities. It assumes that the abilities of non-disabled people are superior and often regards people with disabilities as needing to be "fixed."
Synonyms: Disability discrimination, disablism (British English)
Antonyms: Disability inclusion, equity in access
Adjective:
Ableist: Characterised by or promoting ableism.
Synonyms: Discriminatory towards people with disabilities, prejudiced against disabilities
Antonyms: Inclusive, accessible, disability-positive
Adverb (less common):
Ableistically: In a way that is ableist. (This adverb form is less common than the adjective.)
Synonyms: Discriminatingly (towards people with disabilities), prejudicially
Antonyms: Inclusively, accessibly
Examples of Use
Here are some real-world examples of how "ableism" is used across various mediums:
Book: "This new policy creates a lot of ableism, making it difficult for disabled students to access the same educational opportunities (Louise Wei, "Disability Justice in Education", 2021).
Newspaper: "The article's portrayal of people with Down syndrome perpetuates harmful stereotypes and ableism." (The New York Times editorial board, "Going Beyond Ability" , May 12, 2024).
Online Publication: "The company's website is not accessible to screen reader users, which is a clear example of ableism in tech design." (Forbes https://www.forbes.com/, "Why Accessibility Matters in Website Design", March 14, 2023).
Television: "On the season finale of [hit medical drama], the doctor's offhand comment about a patient's disability was criticised by viewers for being ableist." (Review in [Entertainment Weekly], "Inclusive Storytelling on Television", April 5, 2024).
Public Discourse: "Disability rights activists are calling for an end to ableism in the workplace, ensuring equal opportunities for all employees." (Speech by Senator Jones, "Building an Inclusive Workforce", May 10, 2024).
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Ableism
Due to the relatively recent rise in prominence of the term "ableism," it's unlikely to find many historical quotes directly using the word. However, here are ten quotes that address the concepts of disability discrimination and social barriers, which are central to the definition of ableism:
“The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” - Scott Hamilton (Olympic gold medalist, paraphrased)
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson (philosopher)
“The question of whether we are better off with or without complete equality depends upon what we mean by equality.” - W.E.B. Du Bois (sociologist, author)
"What makes life difficult is not the disability, but the barrier created by society." - Stevie Wonder (musician)
“The measure of a man is not how he is affected by a condition, but how he deals with it.” - Nelson Mandela (activist, politician)
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” - Nelson Mandela (activist, politician)
“The only true wealth is that which you give away, and the only investment is the investment in humanity.” - Henry James (author)
"The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall." - Che Guevara (revolutionary)
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” - Martin Luther King Jr. (activist)
“The human spirit is more powerful than any circumstance.” - C.S. Lewis (author)
Etymology
The word "ableism" is a fairly new invention in the English language. It showed up sometime in the 1980s, most likely coined by feminists fighting for equal rights for everyone.
Here's how they built the word:
Able - We know this means having the skills or capabilities to do something.
-ism - This suffix is stuck onto many words to indicate a system of beliefs or a kind of treatment. For example, racism or sexism.
So, they basically took "able" and added "-ism" to create a word that describes the belief system that views people with disabilities as inferior or less capable. This belief system can lead to discrimination against people with disabilities.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Ableism
While "ableism" is a relatively new word, there aren't many common phrases or idioms that directly use it. However, here are some related expressions that embody the concept of ableism:
Phrases:
Discriminatory attitudes towards people with disabilities (formal and descriptive)
Barriers to inclusion (focuses on the obstacles faced)
Perpetuating stereotypes about disabilities (highlights the spread of negative assumptions)
Microaggressions against disabled people (addresses subtle, often unintentional, insults)
Idioms (not directly using "ableism" but with similar meaning):
Playing the victim (implies someone with a disability is complaining unfairly) [ableist because it downplays legitimate challenges]
Not all there (implies someone with an intellectual disability is lacking intelligence) [ableist because it uses disability as a negative stereotype]
Confined to a wheelchair (makes a wheelchair seem like a prison, whereas it's a tool for mobility) [ableist because it emphasises limitations]
Posts Related to Ableism
Source Information
Definition of ableism from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
