Book: Disability Key Concepts by Colin Barnes and Geoff Mercer
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2009/05/29 - Updated: 2025/05/29
Publication Type: Literature / Review
Category Topic: Disability Publications - Academic Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This book, Disability: Key Concepts by Colin Barnes and Geoff Mercer, provides a comprehensive and authoritative exploration of disability through the lens of the social model, offering a critical analysis of how disability is defined, produced, represented, and experienced across various social, historical, and cultural contexts. Drawing on a wide range of disability studies literature and interdisciplinary perspectives, the authors rigorously examine the roots of social oppression faced by disabled people, situating disability alongside other forms of social marginalization such as gender, race, and sexual orientation.
The work is particularly useful for students, scholars, and professionals in sociology, social policy, health studies, and related fields, as it challenges conventional academic and policy approaches while highlighting the exclusion and marginalization of disabled people in areas like education, employment, family life, and politics. Its accessible yet theoretically robust content makes it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand or address the complexities of disability in society, including people with disabilities, seniors, and those involved in advocacy or care - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Barnes and Mercer raise the bar for any future discussions of the social model of disability. Their well-grounded work uses the social model to analyze the classic questions of the definition, production, representation, experience, stratification, exclusion, politics and globalization of disability. This timely book is a must read for students, scholars and activists.
Main Content
Gary L. Albrecht, University of Illinois at Chicago:
"This book is essential reading for all disability studies scholars. It is historically well-grounded and theoretically rigorous, carefully exploring theories of disability, impairment and the body. The nature of the social oppression experienced by disabled people is analyzed, and disability is located in relation to gender, 'race' and social class. Like all good sociology, the book is highly accessible and an excellent read."
Sheila Riddell, University of Glasgow:
For most of the twentieth century, people with disabilities have been regarded as 'victims' of their condition and a 'burden' on society. More recently, however, disabled people and their organizations across Europe and North America have challenged conventional explanations for their individual and collective disadvantage, calling for policy measures to change the image and status of disabled people in the Western world.
In this new book, Barnes and Mercer provide a concise and accessible introduction to the concept of disability. Drawing on a burgeoning 'disability studies' literature from around the world, and from a range of disciplinary perspectives, the authors explore the evolution of this concept and offer a wide-ranging critique of established academic, policy and professional orthodoxies.
The book highlights disabled peoples' exclusion and marginalization in key areas of social activity and participation across different historical and cultural contexts, such as family life and reproduction, education, employment, leisure, cultural imagery and politics.
The analysis concentrates on disability as a distinctive form of social oppression similar to that experienced by women, minority ethnic and 'racial' groups, and lesbians and gay men. Key issues addressed include:
- Disability culture
- Theorizing disability
- Experiencing impairment and disability
- Historical and comparative perspectives
- Disability politics, social policy and citizenship
- Professional and policy intervention in the lives of disabled people
This will be essential reading for those studying sociology, social policy, social work, health studies, disability studies, and those in the therapy and nursing professions.
Title: Disability (Key Concepts)
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Polity (February 7, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0745625096
ISBN-13: 978-0745625096
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: Barnes and Mercer's work stands as a pivotal contribution to disability discourse, effectively shifting the narrative from individual impairment to societal responsibility. By articulating the complexities of disability through a social lens, they not only critique existing frameworks but also lay the groundwork for more inclusive policies and practices. Their scholarly yet accessible approach makes this book an essential resource for anyone committed to fostering a more equitable society. This information stands out for its depth and clarity, offering essential insights for both academic and practical audiences. By foregrounding the lived experiences and systemic challenges faced by disabled individuals, it not only informs policy and practice but also encourages a more inclusive and nuanced public discourse. Such scholarship is vital for fostering social change and ensuring that the voices and rights of disabled people are recognized and respected - Disabled World (DW).
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.