Gender and Disability Consciousness Among Community Organizers and Self-Advocates Tammy Bernasky a Dissertation Submitted to Th
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
GENDER AND DISABILITY CONSCIOUSNESS AMONG COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND SELF-ADVOCATES TAMMY BERNASKY A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN CRITICAL DISABILITY STUDIES YORK UNIVERSITY TORONTO, ONTARIO September 2020 © Tammy Bernasky, 2020 Abstract This dissertation approaches oppression of women and trans people in the disability community from the vantage point of resistance movements. Research in this area has, so far, largely excluded gender-based violence. I begin to fill this gap through research with self-advocates and community organizers. My project asks, ‘under what conditions do movements for women and trans people with disabilities emerge?’ I also propose that movements to end violence can transform individual and collective consciousness about disability and gender oppression. Participants were recruited by networking with organizations in Canada and internationally. Snowballing and social media outreach were also used as recruitment methods. Semi-structured, face-to-face and virtual interviews were conducted with thirteen participants from nine countries. An objectivist grounded content analysis identified experiences of gender and disability oppression as well as transformative conditions for individual and collective consciousness. I use an intersectional analysis to help frame movement from and between disability oppression, consciousness, and empowerment – a process that is not necessarily cyclical, parallel, or linear. Through this research I propose two aspects of social movement organizing. The first is the individual aspect, whereby an individual experiences oppression, but with support and education a raised consciousness about disability and gender oppression emerges and from that there is resistance. Individuals may also participate in the second aspect, which is social movement organizing, whereby the group is equipped with a collective understanding of their circumstances and an awareness of the possibilities to take action. I conclude that individuals and movements organizing around gender-based violence in the disability community can experience oppression, resistance, and empowerment in a number of ways; whether it is linear, cyclical or simultaneous. In short, in order for social movements to be ongoing and progressive, they require supporters and actors who individually and collectively recognize a common struggle, share a desire to ensure better for themselves and others, and exhibit a propensity to act. ii Dedication This work is dedicated to the participants who took the time to participate in my research and who trusted me to tell their stories and to all the advocates and organizers who join them to work against gender-based violence in the disability community. Thank you for all that you do. iii Acknowledgements I would first like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Rachel da Silveira Gorman, whose support and dedication has kept me motivated throughout this process. Your ability to redirect me in a positive and meaningful way when I needed it, your constant encouragement, and the potential you saw in my work from the very beginning has been invaluable. Words cannot express the extent to which working with you has shaped who I have become through this process. You have made me feel enthusiastic about my work and the future time and time again. You are the kind of mentor and teacher I would like to be. I would also like to thank Dr. Marcia Rioux who has always guided me to be intentional in what I say and do. You have encouraged me to think critically about what I read and write and to always think about what’s not being said. Again, you have seen potential in me and my work before I knew it was there, and your ability to foster that has also kept me going through some difficult times. I am forever grateful. Dr. Annie Bunting, thank you for your sincerity in guiding me in my work and for your kindness and encouragement about my project. You brought a different perspective that helped me work through some important questions until I was satisfied with the answers. My dissertation committee has truly been my dream team. Each of you has brought something different to my work in ways that have strengthened it and me. I feel truly grateful that I had such a strong, supportive, and kind dissertation committee. The importance of this cannot be underestimated. Thank you to Dr. Angela Miles and Dr. Iris Epstein for taking an interest in my work as external and internal examiners respectively. You have offered supportive and insightful comments about my work which will help to keep me moving forward. To Linda Jones, my former manager, and now a mentor and friend, who first suggested that I do a PhD. I would never have considered it possible were it not for your confidence in me. Thank you. Finally, I would like to thank my parents for encouraging me to pursue this degree and for insisting that I could indeed finish it. It has not been a short journey, but it has been an important one. iv Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii Dedication ...................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ iv Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ v Chapter One: Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 Background ................................................................................................................................ 1 Definitions .................................................................................................................................. 4 What is my Why? ....................................................................................................................... 9 My Story................................................................................................................................. 9 Chapter Two: Theoretical Framework .......................................................................................... 17 Intersectionality ........................................................................................................................ 20 Material Conditions of Oppression .......................................................................................... 26 What is Oppression.............................................................................................................. 26 What contributes to Disability Oppression? ............................................................................ 28 Political Economy ............................................................................................................... 28 Negative Attitudes ................................................................................................................ 31 False Consciousness and Internalized Oppression ............................................................. 35 Raised Consciousness .............................................................................................................. 41 Disability Consciousness among Women with Disabilities ................................................. 42 Empowered Consciousness and Social Movement Organizing ............................................... 44 Social Movement Organizing and Women with Disabilities ............................................... 47 What is Unique about Social Movements of Women with Disabilities ................................... 50 Conclusion................................................................................................................................ 54 Chapter Three: Methodology ........................................................................................................ 56 Methods .................................................................................................................................... 57 The Participants ........................................................................................................................ 59 Participant Profiles ............................................................................................................. 60 Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 63 Chapter Four: Participant Experiences ......................................................................................... 66 Negative Perceptions about Disability ..................................................................................... 67 Amal – Yemen ...................................................................................................................... 67 Negative Perceptions ........................................................................................................... 68 Lack of Representation in Movements .................................................................................... 70 Fran – Toronto, Canada.....................................................................................................