WGSS414: WK8 Blog/ Ableism As Oppression

Despite the existence of accessibility laws and protections, there is ample space for social change and social justice regarding disability. Mainly, most laws in existence are written and created without the voices and experiences of folks with disabilities related to those laws. Although some laws manifested through the justice system, ablism is the hegemonic social and medical standard in which all other (dis)abilities are “othered,” diminished, and or erased. Disability justice advocacy is necessary precisely because most spaces are not supportive of different abilities, therefore, limiting access to folks, causing harm, and oppression.

Additionally, as social justice and social movements regarding disability justice continue to create and demand action, laws, and advocacy must progress as well. For example, consider the social model of disability, where the “disability” is labeled a disability as a result of existing in an ableist world. When institutions construct policies, practices, physical structures, and access within hegemonic ability, anything outside of ablism is diminished. Every person has different abilities, but within ablism, anything outside of it is considered a (dis)ability rather than a different ability. Furthermore, within the social model of disability, societal conditions limit possibilities for different abilities. The medical model of disability refers to disabilities caused by biological dysfunction rather than societal conditions. Both the social and medical model of disability is used in disability justice to create equal access to spaces without limitations.

WGSS414: WK9 Blog/ Wikipedia Reflection

The work and learning practices used in this course for the Wikipedia project created insight into how the axes of oppression against women exist in the digital world as a system that often perpetuates harm. Although I have contributed to Wikipedia edits in another course, the knowledge and understanding regarding context created and edited on Wikipedia in this course, assisted in broadening my understanding of how critical it is to assist in storytelling, articles, and facts. Mainly, contributions from multiple perspectives, not just the hegemonic white cis male normative or “default” in digital spaces are essential to work where marginalized people should take up space to tell their own stories and perspectives. Challenging and critiquing ideas, whether on Wikipedia or beyond, is crucial to assist in social change, allyship, and reification.

Additionally, readings from class developed a thorough understanding of the multiple social locations that women can and do live in every day. Readings from class, along with the Zotero project, highlighted the importance of developing a complex and complete reference section of work that tells the story of information gathering and development. Having multiple sources adds weight to the articles. It also can be supportive of multiple perspectives that are equally important at challenging social normative and creating safe, supportive spaces for women and marginalized communities in the digital world.