Disability justice is a system that represents the minority class of disabled/impaired individuals, combats ableism (and other -isms) and intersects with other social locations. Social locations such as, race, gender, class, sexuality, etc. It is important to note that disability justice’s intersectional approach is also anti-capitalist. Capitalism view people and their productivity as a commodity. Many people with impairment struggled with obtaining employment before the ADA was enacted in 1990. Disability justice must be embedded into accessibility laws to solidify equitable and equal access to opportunities. This can be implemented by seeing through an intersectional lens. Knowing, understanding, and respecting each other is the route to breaking down marginalization, discrimination, and bias. People with impairments are a “minority status that is not shameful” (Bryan 475) nor should ever be seen as shameful. They are a “very important cog in the wheel of American life” (Bryan 476) and should have all the same human rights and access to this world as an able bodied person.

The social model of disability is one that challenges the prejudice attitudes of ableism. It questioned in which ways our society functions, often placing many barriers in place to limit people with impairments. The social model takes into account the personal experiences of people with disabilities and uses them to make the world a more accessible place. Having more accessibility means allowing people with impairments more independence and freedom to live their lives how they choose to. An example of a social model would be ramps into buildings, making it wheelchair accessible.

The medical model views people with impairments by their disability, what it “wrong” with them. This model’s approach is how can we “fix” them even if they aren’t suffering in pain or are at peace with their impairment. This model created low expectations which is very hurtful and demeaning. Often this perception reduces the quality of life of the individual.

Bibliography:

Adams, Maurice. Readings for Diversity and Social Justice. Routledge, 2010.

Berne, Patricia, et al. “Ten Principles of Disability Justice.” WSQ: Women’s Studies Quarterly, vol. 46 no. 1, 2018, p. 227-230. Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/wsq.2018.0003.

The US media and entertainment industry represents chic by pushing a certain image to the masses. With the help of social media; companies such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc. we are all at the mercy of it’s cookie cutter idea of “cool.” Especially when it is constantly in front of our faces.

Regarding to gender in media, women are pressured on how they present themselves. You have to be flawless and sexy to be determined worthy. However, don’t forget that oozing sex appeal will result in backlash. Too much skin you are deemed a thirsty, attention seeking whore. How’s a girl to succeed with such opposing criteria.

Many of US social media influencers are highly criticized for their appropriation of minority groups. White instagram models dress up in feather headdresses claiming it is “cool” and post photos from there *insert festival name here.* It leaves a very negative taste in mouths when white women appropriate minority’s cultures when they don’t show respect or advocate for those people. Being the sexy Indian, feathers and all in disrespectful to Native Americans who have suffered greatly at the hands of colonialism. Another is example is when white women began to wear certain styles of braids because they saw a celebrity doing it. It is hurtful to many black women because they take so much pride in their hairstyles. When white women wear braids they don’t have to carry the baggage of marginalization and oppression that a person of color does.

When it come to sexuality and how the media utilizes it as hip, I think is more a newer issue. Within media we have negative and hurtful commentary trying to tear down women, people of color, and individuals in the LGBTQ2+ community all the time. We are constantly *ding* notified of how terrible trolls can be.

In order to combat this seemingly never ending newsfeed of hate and disrespect I think an intersectional approach would bring forth a platform for inclusive discourse. Learning and applying aspects of Critical Race Theory, examining how we can reconstruct how society views and interacts with race, racism, and power.

Bibliography:

Noble, Safiya Umoja, and Brendesha M. Tynes. The Intersectional Internet: Race, Sex, Class and Culture Online. Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., 2016.

Wikipedia policies encourage writers to take care when writing about women, choosing proper descriptors when describing people from specific regions, and to use gender neutral words. This is important for creating identity-safe spaces.

When writing about women it’s vital to reference their works and accomplishments as an individual in order to avoid gender bias. If she was the first woman to complete a certain accomplishment it is important to acknowledge her other achievements prior. This assists in avoiding unconscious gender bias whilst reading biographies of women.

Relationship are also important to reference correctly when writing about women. Wikipedia article about women address their relationships more often than articles about men. When it is necessary to discuss avoid terms such as, “man and wife” and “Mrs. John Doe.” These word choices come off sexist and mark the women as objects their husbands own. If their relationship is not correlated to their works and achievements discussed then it is best to leave it out.

Gender neutral language should be used when writing and editing Wikipedia articles to steer clear of misgendering and the use of “unnecessary reinforcement of traditional stereotypes” (Wikipedia: Gender Neutral Language, 2019). In order to compose gender neutral content the use of the singular pronoun, they is appropriate. Always including both genders is another solution but does not take into account people who do not identify as either male or female. Because “man” is seen as the norm or given I personally like to use “she” to combat the patriarchal contributions regarding language. When I reference a theoretical being I choose “she” but “they” I think is more proper.

When choosing descriptive words for people it is necessary to refrain from inappropriate or racial terms. Wikipedia urges the descriptor the group of people being referenced prefer. Instead of choosing “Asian,” a very broad and expansive region, it is best to narrow down and choose “Japanese” when referring people from Japan. Another point to mention is the significance of not choosing to use derogatory terminologies. Instead of referring to African American as “colored,” which is very hurtful to the African American community, it is best to instead use “African Americans” or “Black people.”

Insuring usage of neutral and PC terminologies is critical to write informational and unbiased pieces. From respecting women’s achievements, people’s gender identities, to people’s ethnicities. Wikipedia has guidelines to help us navigate our ways to contributing sound and civil work.

Bibliography: “Manual of Style.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Oct. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style#Gender-neutral_language.

“Manual of Style.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Oct. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style#Identity.

“Writing about Women.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Sept. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Writing_about_women.

“Gender-Neutral Language.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 July 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Gender-neutral_language.