Reconsidering Citizenship in the Light of the Concerns of the UK Disability Movement

Abstract

Perhaps largely due to the successful campaigning of a number of pressure groups and social movements, but also due to the established position of related subjects within academia, there is a now almost routine consideration of class, ethnicity, gender and sexuality in relation to citizenship. Disability and the position of disabled people as “citizens” has not, however, received as much attention. It is the assertion of this article that this is a significant fact, for a consideration of disability in relation to citizenship provides useful insights into the strengths and weaknesses of some important theories of citizenship. Further, it demonstrates the need for an approach that takes account of the increasing uncertainty of groups such as disabled people towards their own identities and that conceives citizenship as being a process of “proactive engagement” towards a “reflexive position”.

Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges the financial support of ESRC Postgraduate Studentship Award No. R00429934031 in carrying out the research upon which this article is based. Thanks also go to all the respondents in this research.

Notes

¹ Full details of the findings of this research will be published in: A. E. Beckett (forthcoming), (working title) Citizenship and Vulnerability: Disability and Issues of Social Engagement, to be published by Palgrave Macmillan.

² For a consideration of the ideas of Rawls in relation to the findings of this research, please see the forthcoming book referenced in note 1.

³ Throughout this article respondents are quoted verbatim.

⁴ The Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament have chosen not to implement the value-added measure.

⁵ Figures from Department of Work and Pensions (2003) Autumn Performance Report.

⁶ Figures from Burchardt (2000).

⁷ This is a term that was used by respondents in this research.