Representations, Metaphors and Meanings of the Term “Handicap” in France

Abstract

In France, as opposed to most European countries, the term “handicap” is not only used as a noun, but also as an attribute to designate people living with disabilities. Thus, it was of particular interest to understand the representations, the metaphors and the meanings related to the term “handicap”. A qualitative study, using in-depth open-ended interviews was carried out in France. The material collected was analysed through a content analysis, in order to identify the metaphors and shed light on their underlying meanings. Our study has demonstrated that the representations of handicap do not reflect word for word the official classification separating the motor, sensorial, mental and social components of disabilities. In the representations, the various components are restructured in different configurations, which give specific meanings and values to each one in the context of a global representation of human social functioning and its avatars. “Mental handicap” appears to be the most handicapping of all disabilities and functions as metaphor for all the conditions, states, situations and persons designated by the term “handicap”.

Acknowledgements

This paper covers a portion of a research project done with an External Research Contract from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM, no. 891106). Régine Scelles participated in the collection of the interviews and some qualitative analysis. The paper has been translated from the French by Gabrielle Ivinson (Cardiff University).