This is a guest post by Dr. Pranoo who lives in Hyderabad India and has worked as a gender and sexuality researcher.
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I would like to begin this post with a question: how would the architecture of our world change if it were not designed for so-called able bodies and minds? This is a question that was first raised for me in my Master’s class. As we learned about the phenomenon of subjectivity, of the tenuous yet ineluctable line between the normal and the abnormal, we learned also that the world is structured to enable certain bodies while other bodies must be fit in, ‘accommodated’ into its design through recourse to needs of their pathology.
Design for the so-called abled extends beyond its surfaces; it is not merely the absence of braille in our everyday spaces, the lack of wheelchair support or the many other accommodations in homes, workspaces and educational institutions that would make our living spaces an inclusive place catering to our diverse selves. More importantly, these designs extend into our language, the structure of our economy, our varied institutions reducing (dis)abled bodies to ‘other’ bodies. Bodies for whom space must be made because the current economic and structural conditions are not meant to cater to them. These structures create excluded bodies. It is as if the stairs, and by extension, economies that run in glass and steel monstrosities, say: “Thou shall not pass”. This is not incidental. By marking out (dis)abled bodies as different, our systems enable the pathologization and othering of bodies different from its ideal. These are iterated again and again by leaders and peacemakers as they strive to find ways to fit the (dis)abled into institutions that were never made with them in mind.
Consider, for a brief instance, the language we use to describe economic success: words such as ‘strong economy’, ‘robust markets’, even representations of economies, such as the raging bull on the NYSE, symbolise vigour and strength by which we measure the well-being of a society. Our descriptions of what constitutes a ‘good’, and dare I say, ‘healthy’ economy depends on ableist metaphors, so much so, that I find it difficult to describe ‘well-being’ within the terms of its discourse without reference to ableist language.
Within the present conditions, economic well-being has taken on a renewed fervour. As COVID made remote work a possibility, companies celebrated the possibility of working from home, providing erstwhile unproductive (dis)abled folks a chance to join the workforce. But recent RTO mandates and controversies around work— whether through Amazon’s efforts, or through the almost ludicrous commentary of self-proclaimed leaders such as Narayan Murthy— have dashed those hopes again. I am reminded of Bertrand Russell who, in his essay, In Praise of Idleness, writes, “the morality of work is the morality of slaves”.
The valorisation of work within our era must be seen as the demonstrative desire of an ableist economy: an economy that does not value rest or play, but demands the suppression of one’s creative and critical forces to the dictates of economic conduct fitting to slaves. Rest, under the present discourse, becomes the purview of the lazy or the pitifully incapable. Sadly, even leisure today is increasingly shaped by such ableism: the ability to travel or socialise, to attain financial autonomy for pleasures or the accumulation of goods and desires, are all driven by the concurrent co-option of workers’ leisure time and money into economic production.
One wonders under the force of such pressure, what would be the shape of our institutions if they were built around rest and recovery? How would systems change if accommodations were not a form of charity given with contempt and reluctance to the (dis)abled but a desire to imagine the world anew, shaped by its many bodies rather than built for its few?
I have no answer to this question. I imagine that in such a society, well-being would be measured not by statistics fed by corporate giants but the happiness and fulfilment of its many members, where the right to live is not determined by the capacity to earn livelihood. And words such as ‘strong’ to mark a positive state of affairs would no longer hold any meaning.
This post is a part of “International Day of Persons with Disability” blog hop hosted by Sakshi Varma – Tripleamommy. #IDPD2024Bloghop. Access all posts of this bloghop at https://tripleamommy.com/2024/12/02/beyond-barriers-amplifying-voices-for-inclusion-marking-idpd-2024/.
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This is such an important reminder for all of us. The happiness and contenemt is what it matters.
[…] Day 18. December 20, 2024 In today’s post Pranoo reflects on how the architecture of our world—both physical and systemic—is designed for able bodies, reducing (dis)abled individuals to “others” who must be accommodated rather than included by default. She critiques how ableism permeates not just spaces but also language and economic structures, valorizing productivity while dismissing rest and recovery. Imagining a world where systems prioritize well-being over ableist ideals, she envisions a society shaped by its diverse bodies, not just its “strongest.” Read her post here. […]
The spaces surely need to be inclusive. Only those who have experienced this can offer the right advice on how to design them. It’s also about attitude and need to include them in your life.
Thank you for highlighting what we as institutions and the world still lack.It set me thinking how a blind person going to a mall or a road find a location or a store?
Couldn’t agree more on the need for design thinking vs tokenism in creating an inclusive world for the disabled. I had similar experiences where while accomodations are made available, they are rendered unusable due to bad design or rather trying to forcefit them into a design made for the able bodied. Thank you for calling this out!
I have always felt this that the fundamental structure of society, work and productivity are based on such narrow terms that it makes everyone outside of those boundaries feel useless. When they may be doing so much more for the society than simply earning money. You have raised a very important question Dr Pranoo.
Your post resonates so well with me. “By marking out (dis)abled bodies as different, our systems enable the pathologization and othering of bodies different from its ideal.” It’s only when we start differentiating between “us” and “them” will we start designing for “all”.
Utility and the idea of a perfect self…you have given me more food for thought than I can chew for now! Thanks for sharing….
Reimagining a world that prioritizes inclusivity, rest, and recovery as foundational principles could transform society. Thank you for challenging us to rethink the norms we’ve long accepted. Such a thought-provoking piece!
Such an inspiring read! This post beautifully captures the resilience and determination needed to navigate through life’s challenges. A true reminder that, no matter the obstacles, we all have the power to make it in the world!
Your post is an eye opener and indeed we need to sit and think why we expect everyone to accommodate to the structures (of everything) rather than find ways to ensure everyone fits in. In this sense, we have a very long to go.
Thanks Dr. Pranoo for presenting an interesting perspective….Indeed modern languages / structures are biased towards strong and abled…perhaps coming out of darwinian thought of “survival of the fittest”.
Though our ancient cultures pointing to a more empathatic world view about specially abled …e.g. Sage Ashtavakra was given equal or more credit for based on his merit or knowledge…
We may NOT expect to have a perfect society though we can surely enable micro-environments promoting INCLUSION in spirit…may be 🙂
So true! we are all busy making it in the world but tend to forget to live during this, continuously running behind something or the other. Now-days we have to find time for happiness
This was an inspiring and an eye opener read. I agree that we still have a very long way ahead to go in terms of being inclusive in terms of structure.
From incubation to execution the process needs to be rethought. Finding small joys in little things of life is important.
An awesome read thank you for making us understand the true value of life
Your reflections on ableism in design, economy, and language are both thought-provoking and deeply urgent. The interconnectedness of these systems in shaping our world—and the urgent need to reconsider how we build spaces, economies, and institutions to truly include all bodies and minds.
I completely agree with your perspective on how design extends into our language, the structure of our economy, and our institutions, often marginalizing (dis)abled bodies as ‘other.’ You’ve raised many valid and thought-provoking questions, and I find myself reflecting on what the right answers might be.
Wow!!! What an extraordinary way to deal with the concept of disability! Your blog asks a valid question of what if our architects were physically challenged then how different our today’s architecture would be. In hindsight, it would really have been a comfortable place for everyone including those blessed with able minds and bodies.
This piece really makes you think about how deep-rooted ableism is in our systems.