How disability is conceptualized in individual discrimination complaints
| DOI | 10.1177/1358229116682114 |
| Author | Kristina Engwall |
| Published date | 01 December 2016 |
| Date | 01 December 2016 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
How disability is
conceptualized in
individual discrimination
complaints
Kristina Engwall
Abstract
This article studies how disabilities are conceptualized and used by citizens when they
report perceived discrimination associated with disability in Sweden. A review of all 485
disability-related complaints filed with the Equality Ombudsman in 2012 shows how
disabilities are conceptualized on three different themes. The first involves environ-
mental obstacles that include references to deficiencies regarding human rights as well as
material deficiencies. The second involves diagnoses and incapacity by using medical
language citing medical certificates. The third involves those complaints that cite multiple
discriminatory grounds, of which disability is one. These individual interpretations of
disability show how citizens justify their belonging to the category of disabled people.
The variations of the concept of disability can be viewed as a pragmatic way of relating to
disability, suggesting the possibility of assuming different positions in different situations,
where the context determines what is most suitable.
Keywords
Disability definitions, discrimination law, Sweden, consciousness
FoU So
¨derto
¨rn, Tullinge, Sweden
Corresponding author:
Kristina Engwall, FoU So
¨derto
¨rn, Doktorsva
¨gen 2, SE-147 30, Tumba, Sweden.
Email: kristina.engwall@fou-sodertorn.se
International Journalof
Discrimination and theLaw
2016, Vol. 16(4) 214–227
ªThe Author(s) 2016
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DOI: 10.1177/1358229116682114
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