Definition

Noun: * Discrimination in favor of the able-bodied: A system of beliefs, practices, and social structures that assumes able-bodiedness is the default, superior, or preferred state, thereby marginalizing, excluding, or disadvantaging people with disabilities. It is the societal privileging of people without disabilities.

Usage

• Able-bodism is a critical term used in disability studies and activism to analyze systemic inequality. It describes a pervasive form of discrimination that is often unconscious and embedded in physical environments, attitudes, policies, and cultural representations.
• It functions as an abstract noun, typically used in formal, academic, or advocacy contexts to discuss social structures rather than individual acts.

Examples

• The building's design, with only stairs and no ramp, is a clear example of able-bodism.
• Her research focuses on how able-bodism in the workplace limits career advancement for disabled professionals.
• Challenging able-bodism requires more than just physical accessibility; it requires changing societal attitudes.

Advanced Usage

• Internalized able-bodism: When people with disabilities unconsciously accept and apply the negative stereotypes and societal norms of able-bodism to themselves.
  • Overcoming internalized able-bodism was a significant part of her journey to self-acceptance.

Variants and Related Words

• Ableism (noun): A more common and broadly used synonym for discrimination against people with disabilities. While able-bodism specifically highlights the favoring of the able-bodied, "ableism" is the wider, more frequently encountered term for prejudice based on disability.
• Ableist (adjective): Characterized by or showing discrimination against people with disabilities.
  • That ableist policy excludes qualified candidates.

Synonyms

• Ableism: Discrimination in favor of able-bodied people.
• Disablism (chiefly UK): Prejudice or discrimination against people with disabilities.

Related Concepts

• Audism: Discrimination in favor of hearing people and against deaf people.
• Sanism: Discrimination and oppression against people with mental health conditions or psychosocial disabilities.

Noun

1. discrimination in favor of the able-bodied