A More Accurate Definiton of Ableism by Talila A Lewis

The Talila A Lewis Definiton of Ableism

A system of assigning value to people’s bodies and minds based on societally constructed ideas of normalcy, productivity, desirability, intelligence, excellence, and fitness. These constructed ideas are deeply rooted in eugenics, anti-Blackness, misogyny, colonialism, imperialism, and capitalism.

This systemic oppression leads to people and society determining people’s value based on their culture, age, language, appearance, religion, birth or living place, “health/wellness”, and/or their ability to satisfactorily re/produce, “excel” and “behave.”

You do not have to be disabled to experience ableism.

This is a more accurate definition of ableism that does not try to center the idea of what one should be “able” to do around a white-supremacist, global north idea of normal and frame the medical as the only thing causing accessibility barriers. Thus, it is a definition that does not erase synonymous barriers such as literacy rates and those that are ESL or not proficient in English at all. Because to say that literacy rates are not an accessibility issue because they are not about disability feels closer to the NFL, until 2022, saying black players injuries and symptoms were not a concussion issue because black people are like that than it does to saying wheelchair access isn’t a racism issue because it isn’t racially motivated.
One clarifies, the other excludes.
It is a definition that does not recreate the disability determination process at a cultural level, creating filters to decide who is allowed to say they aren’t able to do or access something. And if we remain open to that, we can better fight together for accessibility that addresses us all.

I also value this definition, because it is a living, breathing definition that will evolve as Talila does.

Because it is also white supermacy that tries to convince us that language is a rigid thing we must fit inside of rather than a living environment adapting and reshaping itself, trying to follow us where ever we ask to take it.