Definition

Noun: * Discrimination in favor of the able-bodied: A social system, attitude, or prejudice that assumes able-bodied people are the norm or superior, thereby marginalizing, excluding, or creating barriers for people with disabilities. It privileges abilities and bodies considered "normal" and can manifest in physical environments, policies, and interpersonal interactions.

Usage

This term is used in sociological, disability rights, and critical discourse to analyze and critique systemic bias. It describes a pervasive form of discrimination that is often built into societal structures. * The lack of ramps and elevators in the historic building is a clear example of able-bodiedism. * The policy was criticized for its able-bodiedism, as it failed to account for employees with chronic illnesses. * Challenging able-bodiedism involves redesigning public spaces to be accessible to everyone.

Advanced Usage

• Institutional Able-bodiedism: Refers to discrimination embedded in the laws, policies, and practices of organizations and governments.
  • The university's admissions process was overhauled to remove elements of institutional able-bodiedism.
• Internalized Able-bodiedism: When people with disabilities unconsciously accept the negative societal views about disability.
  • The workshop focused on unlearning internalized able-bodiedism and building disability pride.

Variants and Related Words

• Ableism (Noun): A more common and broader synonym for discrimination and social prejudice against people with disabilities. "Able-bodiedism" is a specific type of ableism.
• Disablism (Noun): Primarily used in British English, with a meaning very similar to "ableism."
• Able-bodied (Adjective): Having a strong and healthy body; not physically disabled. (Note: Many in the disability community prefer terms like "non-disabled").
• Able-bodiedist (Adjective/Noun): Pertaining to or a person who promotes able-bodiedism.

Synonyms

• Ableism
• Disablism (UK)
• Physical ability-based discrimination

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To privilege able-bodiedness: To treat the able-bodied experience as the default or superior standard.
  • The fitness test privileges able-bodiedness and excludes many qualified candidates.
• Able-bodied normativity: The assumption that being able-bodied is the normal, default state of human existence.
  • Fighting able-bodied normativity is key to achieving true inclusion.

Noun

1. discrimination in favor of the able-bodied