Intersectionality and employment in the United Kingdom: Where are all the Black disabled people?

Abstract

This paper begins by giving a description of the relationship between austerity and the neoliberal policy focus on work in the UK, and how this impacts negatively on disabled people. It examines why Black disabled people’s employment experiences have been missing in the literature despite the fact that they are more affected by austerity. Black disabled people’s experiences in the job market tend to focus on racism and discrimination, whilst other struggles linked to disability, and what this implies for Black people, are poorly understood. A case study, of Black disabled workers, living with the sickle cell condition, is examined to comprehend why more nuanced intersectional research might be needed to understand why some Black people’s experiences of employment remain invisible.

Points of interest:

• While there has been a lot of attention on disability and impact of austerity and employment in the England, certain experiences have been missing in analysis.

• The study explains why Black disabled people’s employment experiences are neglected in disability, ethnic minority as well as within employment research.

• Black people’s experiences in the job market tend to focus on racist discrimination or identities, whilst other struggles linked to class, sexism and disability discrimination are poorly delineated.

• A case study of Black disabled workers with a genetic condition, sickle cell, is given to argue that more nuanced research is needed.

Keywords:

• Intersectionality
• employment
• disability
• racism
• Black
• BAME

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge receipt of Big Lottery/Disability Research on Independent Living & Learning (DRILL) Grant Number 2C1\100045 BARRIERS AND ENABLERS TO EMPLOYMENT: BLACK DISABLED PEOPLES LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL DISORDERS (SCD)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.