Oppression and Health

My Mom was My Left Arm

The Lived Experience of Ableism for Girls with Spina Bifida

In many cultures, people deemed different, deficient or of lesser value are socially marginalized, disempowered, devalued and face innumerable barriers to health and quality of life. Girls deemed dis-abled are one such group. Through oppression, discrimination, and constant degradation, marginalized groups are denied the basic human right of dignity. For five girls with Spina Bifida, the experience of societal ableism, i.e. the belief that being able bodied is normal, eroded their sense of self worth, impinged upon their human rights, and isolated them in their own degradation – until they came together and spoke.

Mobilizing New Meanings of Disability and Difference: Using Arts-Based Approaches to Advance Health Care Inclusion for Women with Disabilities