Ableisms

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The various forms of discrimination against individuals with disabilities; expressions or actions that reinforce negative stereotypes about disabled people; practices or attitudes that devalue those with impairments compared to able-bodied individuals
2. Actions or beliefs that perpetuate inequality for those living with disabilities; terms or behaviors that signify a lack of respect for people with disabilities; societal norms that dismiss or undermine the worth of disabled individuals
3. Language or practices that marginalize disabled individuals; systemic issues reflecting bias against those with physical or mental health challenges; attitudes that promote the superiority of non-disabled persons over disabled persons

Etymology: "Ableisms" is the plural of "ableism", so it names the various forms that discrimination against disabled people takes. The base word is "able" with the suffix "-ism", a pattern that signals a doctrine, system, or prejudice. The coinage was modelled on existing words of the same type, such as "racism" and "sexism", which named prejudices based on race and sex. "Ableism" thus borrowed the structure of those terms to name prejudice based on physical or mental ability. The key idea is the inversion built into the word. Ability is treated as the default standard for a person's worth, so people who lack it, or who are judged to lack it, are measured against that standard and found wanting. The suffix does the work of turning an ordinary adjective into a name for a social pattern, which is why the word can cover attitudes, institutions, and everyday language at once.