ERIC Number: EJ811359
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-May
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0968-7599
EISSN: N/A
Repositioning Mothers: Mothers, Disabled Children and Disability Studies
Ryan, Sara; Runswick-Cole, Katherine
Disability & Society, v23 n3 p199-210 May 2008
In this article we set out to review the ways in which mothers of disabled children have been portrayed within disability studies and the more broader academic literature. We argue that within disability studies mothers of disabled children occupy a liminal position because they are often not disabled and yet they can experience forms of disablism. Their experiences can differ markedly from the experiences of mothers of non-disabled children and yet the consequences and outcomes of these experiences, such as developing a "special competence" is largely overlooked. Mothers can work to effect change on behalf of their children and, in some cases, for disabled people more generally, however, this role of activist mother is largely undervalued. The review of literature presented here leads us to conclude that further research needs to be undertaken exploring and highlighting the ways in which mothers of disabled children negotiate, manage and approach their daily lives, operating within what are described by feminist scholars as oppressive mothering ideologies and disabling environments.
Descriptors: Research Needs, Mothers, Disabilities, Ideology, Child Caregivers, Caregiver Role, Parent Role, Literature Reviews, Consciousness Raising, Womens Studies, Children, Developmental Disabilities
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A