Ableism

Ableism—also referred to as ablism, disablism, anapirophobia, anapirism, or disability discrimination—involves prejudice and discriminatory treatment directed at people with disabilities. It operates by reducing individuals to their impairments, framing disabled people as lesser than those without disabilities. This mindset assigns or withholds certain traits, skills, or abilities based on that perceived inferiority, reinforcing false beliefs about disabled individuals and groups.

Stereotypes tied to ableism may apply broadly to disability or target specific conditions. Examples include the assumption that all disabled people want a cure, the mistaken idea that wheelchair users also have intellectual disabilities, or the belief that blind people possess special insight. These stereotypes justify discriminatory actions and strengthen biased attitudes and behaviors. Labeling becomes harmful when it restricts a person’s choices or reshapes their identity.

In societies shaped by ableism, the lives of disabled people are often seen as less valuable, not worth living, or even disposable. The early 20th-century eugenics movement is considered a clear example of widespread ableism. To better understand ableism, one can turn to literature written by disabled people who experience it directly. Disability studies, an academic field, also helps non-disabled people gain insight into the issue. Discrimination based on mental disorders or cognitive impairments is specifically called sanism.

The term “ableism” originates from “disable” and “disabled,” influenced by “able” (from Latin) and the suffix “-ism” (as in racism or sexism). It was first recorded in 1981.

**Canada** In Canada, ableist discrimination has included barriers to essential facilities like transportation infrastructure, restrictive immigration policies, forced sterilization to prevent disabled people from having children, employment obstacles, wages too low for a basic standard of living, and the institutionalization of disabled people in poor conditions. Government austerity measures, such as funding cuts that increased the risk of disabled people living in abusive situations, have also been called ableist.

**United Kingdom** Disability discrimination became illegal in the UK with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Disability Discrimination Act 2005. These were later replaced—while keeping the core law—by the Equality Act 2010. That act combined protections against various forms of discrimination, including disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and pregnancy (the “protected characteristics”). Under the Equality Act 2010, several types of discrimination are prohibited: direct discrimination (section 13), indirect discrimination (sections 6 and 19), harassment (section 26), victimisation (section 27), discrimination arising from disability (section 15), and failure to make reasonable adjustments (section 20). Part 2, chapter 1, section 6 defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

**United States** Like many minority groups, disabled Americans were often segregated and denied rights for most of U.S. history. In the 1800s, a shift from religious to scientific views of disability occurred. Public stigma began to change after World War II, when many veterans returned with disabilities. Following the civil rights movement in the 1960s, the global disability rights movement emerged, aiming to secure equal rights and opportunities for all disabled people. Until the 1970s, ableism was frequently written into U.S. law. For instance, so-called “ugly laws” in many jurisdictions barred people with diseases or disfigurements considered unsightly from appearing in public.

**Japan** Japanese society and culture are shaped by the concept of *Wa* (和), which emphasizes conformity. Central to *Wa* is integrating individuals into a harmonious system that treats society as a single entity rather than a collection of individuals. People are expected to conform for the good of the group, even at the cost of individuality. As a result, disability in Japan is seen as a break from conformity, making acceptance difficult in a homogenous culture. For example, in Japanese elementary schools, the practice of *mimamori* involves watching over children protectively while giving them autonomy in their actions and interactions. This approach leaves disabled children subject to peers who are more socially skilled, with teachers refraining from intervening because of *mimamori*.