8 Chapter 1
“Structure: the components and their manner of arrangement in constituting a whole.”31
What is structural disablism, and why is physical inclusivity so important? “An important difference between the experience of disabled people and those from other oppressed groups in society is that the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ is enshrined in law”32. In modern-day Britain, it would be illegal to expect anyone who identifies with a legislated group of protected characteristics these are, ‘age, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, disability33’, to only gain access to public buildings separately, through alternative entrances. However, for 14.1million people or 21% of the population in 2018/1934 who have declared disability this is their reality. Galtung 35 compares restricting access to essentials that would assist individuals in equal opportunity paths as an indirect act of structural violence. Where there is unequal access there shows unequal power, hence unequal opportunities. Uneven distribution of resources; from education, to cultural, to medical services, mean that whilst we may all be born equally, our environment is a significant factor that defines what we experience and therefore what equality will mean to individuals. Lennard Davis36 is a specialist in disability
31
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing, Definition of structure. (2012) <https://medicaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com/structure> [Accessed 26 January 2021] 32 Rhoda Olkin, What psychotherapists should know about disability, (New York: Guilford press 1999), p. 32 33 Equality Act 2010: Part 2 (c.1) [Online]<https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/4/enacted> [Accessed 12 November 2020] (pp. 4-4). 34 Department for Work and Pensions, Family Resources Survey 2018/19 <https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/874507/fami ly-resources-survey-2018-19.pdf> [Accessed 12 November 2020] (pp.1-7). 35 Johan Galtung, ‘Violence, Peace, and Peace research’, Journal of Peace Research, 6. 3 (1969), 168-191 (pp. 169) <http://www2.kobeu.ac.jp/~alexroni/IPD%202015%20readings/IPD%202015_7/Galtung_Violence,%20Peace,%20and%20Peace% 20Research.pdf> [Accessed 26 January 2021] 36 Lennard Davis, Lennard Davis- Home, (Copyright: 2009 Lennard J. Davis) <http://lennarddavis.com/home.html> [Accessed 26 January 2021]
