Elite Repudiation of the R-Word and Public Opinion About Intellectual Disability

Lyle, Monique L.; Simplican, Stacy Clifford

doi:10.1352/1934-9556-53.3.211

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Many of the most common insults are derogatory terms for intellectual disability, such as “idiot” and “moron.” The r-word, a slang term derived from the medical classification of mental retardation, continues to be used pejoratively as a negative label (Albert, Jacobs, & Siperstein, 2016). Efforts to educate the public on the harmful effects of the r-word, including advocacy by people with intellectual disabilities, governmental efforts (i.e., Rosa’s Law), and media campaigns have done little to reduce usage of the outdated and disparaging term and in fact may actually intensify negative attitudes (Lyle & Simplican, 2015).…”

Section: Disability Language and Attitudesmentioning

confidence: 99%

#SaytheWord: A disability culture commentary on the erasure of “disability”.

Andrews

Forber‐Pratt²,

Mona

et al. 2019

Rehabilitation Psychology

158

129

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To inform the field of rehabilitation psychology about the sociocultural implications of the term "disability," and explain the rationale behind the #SaytheWord movement, a social media call to embrace disability identity. Method: Review of the literature on disability terminology, the history of language use, and the relationship between attitudes toward disability and language. We reflect on the role of disability within the field of psychology and within the American Psychological Association (APA), including the underrepresentation of disabled psychologists and trainees with disabilities and the lack of mentorship opportunities available in the field. Implications: The authors argue that erasure of the word "disability" can have unintended and adverse consequences. We describe how erasure of disability identity in the context of current sociopolitical efforts to reduce and eliminate public services and supports for people with disabilities is especially threatening to members of the disability community. To move forward, the authors postulate that the disability movement must reconcile its own history of exclusion and adopt a disability justice framework. Conclusion: The field of psychology has a rich tradition of appreciation of cultural diversity and individual difference; yet, disability has largely been left out of these efforts. The disability movement is moving toward the status of a diverse cultural group with a social justice agenda parallel to those of other marginalized communities. The authors posit that psychology must play a stronger role in advancing the human rights of people with disabilities. Impact and ImplicationsThis commentary will inform readers about important sociocultural considerations of the use of the term "disability." The literature indicates that despite the importance of language on attitudes toward disabled people, attempts to avoid the term "disability" remain and may have unintended consequences. The authors argue that psychology and the disability movement should align in order to advance a social justice agenda.

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Section: Disability Language and Attitudesmentioning

confidence: 99%

#SaytheWord: A disability culture commentary on the erasure of “disability”.

Andrews

Forber‐Pratt²,

Mona

et al. 2019

Rehabilitation Psychology

158

129

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…First, while experts express clear preferences for some terms over others, newer, less familiar terms, such as DSD, prompt associations to older, more familiar terms. Accordingly, countering stigma by inventing neologisms that are free of pejorative associations with older terms may reduce stigma less than is hoped, as can occur in other domains such as intellectual disability (Lyle & Simplican, 2015). These data can inform expectations about what more recent terms such as “variable sex characteristics” might do to alleviate stigma (Government Equalities Office, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding of intersex: The meanings of umbrella terms and opinions about medical and social responses among laypeople in the United States and United Kingdom.

Hegarty¹,

Donnelly²,

Dutton³

et al. 2021

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

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Intersex variations render a person's body different from both normative male and female embodiment. Medical intervention on infants' intersex traits is long standing, common, and contested for breaching human rights to bodily integrity and self-determination. Such intervention is justified by the threat of unbearable social stigma, but empirical studies of stigma and public understanding are lacking. Here, U.K. and U.S. participants (N ϭ 271) reported their free associations to three contested "umbrella terms" for intersex and their opinions about diverse medical and social responses. Among the umbrella terms, hermaphrodite prompted most references to nonhumans, intersex prompted most references to social identities, and disorders of sex development prompted most references to children. Participants' opinions about medical and social responses to intersex traits were more consistently predicted by sexual identity than any other demographic variable; LGBϩ participants endorsed social responses more, while heterosexual participants endorsed medical responses more. Beliefs in nonbinary gender and lower right-wing authoritarianism predicted support for social responses and opposition to medical responses and accounted for some sexual identity differences. Social and clinical implications are discussed. Public Significance StatementMedical intervention targeting infants' intersex traits is a controversial way to reduce the impact of stigma on such children, but public understanding of intersex is rarely studied. Two hundred seventy-one U.S. and U.K. laypeople's understandings of controversial "umbrella terms" in this area and opinions about medical and social interventions are described. Heterosexual people endorsed medical interventions more and social interventions less than LGBϩ people in part because heterosexual people were more authoritarian and endorsed gender binary beliefs more.

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“…The argument that stigma exists over personality disorder and so the diagnosis should be abandoned, has attracted considerable support. But, experience has shown over the years that if you replace stigmatic names such as ‘mental handicap’ and ‘mental subnormality’ with apparently more acceptable words such as ‘intellectual disability’ it has absolutely no effect on public perception (Lyle & Simplican, 2015). Thus, stigma persists.…”

Section: Negative Reasons For Diagnosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Response: Personality disorder is here to stay across the lifespan – a response to Commentaries on the May 2022 Debate

Tyrer

2022

Child Adoles Ment Health

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Background: The classification of personality disorder is in a state of flux. Revision is necessary, overdue, and is provided by the new ICD-11 classification. Aims: To explain the advantages of the new classification system and why 'borderlne' is a redundant term. To summarise positive and negative views about its implications, especially in young people. Materials and Methods: Review of recent literature and developments. Results: Personality disturbance is ubiquitous and changes across the life span. The data are unequivocal. Discussion: As personality disturbance is so common in childhood and adolescence it should be recognised and acknowledged at this time even though it is very likely to change. Conclusions: The stigma surrounding personality disorder can be countered by science and courage.

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Elite Repudiation of the R-Word and Public Opinion About Intellectual Disability

Cited by 9 publications

References 27 publications

#SaytheWord: A disability culture commentary on the erasure of “disability”.

#SaytheWord: A disability culture commentary on the erasure of “disability”.

Understanding of intersex: The meanings of umbrella terms and opinions about medical and social responses among laypeople in the United States and United Kingdom.

Response: Personality disorder is here to stay across the lifespan – a response to Commentaries on the May 2022 Debate

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