ANY3650

Social Construction of Disabilities ( 6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: TBA

Offered:
Not offered in 2005.

Synopsis: The discursive construction of 'the disabled' in our society. The perception and treatment of 'disabilities' cross-culturally and throughout Western history. The link between the ideological construction of the 'normal' and the 'pathological' in current Western conceptions of humanity, and the demands of capitalist production for an 'able-bodied' workforce. One case study will be examined in detail: the social construction and treatment of the 'deaf'.

Objectives: The aim of this subject is to give students an understanding of the cultural construction of the concept of 'the disabled' as a category of humanity. Upon completion of this subject students should: 1. Have gained an historical knowledge of concepts of normality and pathology as they have been applied to human physical and mental conditions. 2. Understand the concepts of normality and pathology as they are applied to deafness and the Deaf community.

Assessment: Review (1500 words): 30% + Essay (3000 words): 70%

Contact Hours: 2 hours (1 x 2 hour seminar) per week

Prerequisites: ANY/SCY/PLT/WMN second-year or by permission