The Rejected Body: Feminist Philosophical Reflections on Disability

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2009/07/03 - Updated: 2025/05/29
Publication Type: Literature / Review
Category Topic: Disability Publications - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This article provides an authoritative overview of Susan Wendell's influential book, "The Rejected Body: Feminist Philosophical Reflections on Disability." The work is recognized within academic and philosophical circles for expanding the scholarship on impairment, a previously underexplored area in disability studies. Wendell challenges even established feminist frameworks by urging a re-examination of how society defines, understands, and treats disabilities, offering a well-informed critique that resonates across both feminist and disability literature.

The book is frequently cited in scholarly reviews for its humane and personal approach, as Wendell, herself a person living with disabilities, invites readers to rethink cultural assumptions about human worth and the social construction of disability. This information is particularly useful for people with disabilities, seniors, and anyone interested in how philosophical perspectives can shape more inclusive social ethics, as it encourages a broader and more nuanced understanding of difference and value in society - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

The Rejected Body argues that feminist theorizing has been skewed toward non-disabled experience, and that the knowledge of people with disabilities must be integrated into feminist ethics, discussions of bodily life, and criticism of the cognitive and social authority of medicine. Among the topics it addresses are who should be identified as disabled; whether disability is biomedical, social or both; what causes disability and what could 'cure' it; and whether scientific efforts to eliminate disabling physical conditions are morally justified.

Main Content

Review Quotes:

"Even within the feminist framework, our definitions, knowledge, perceptions, and treatments of disabilities require rethinking. A well-informed deconstruction." - Ms. Magazine

"...Wendell has significantly expanded the scholarship on impairment, a critical and underdeveloped area in disability studies." - Signs

"The Rejected Body is both a very human and a very humane book. The author, Susan Wendell, a person living with disabilities, shines through this book, and invites the reader to engage with the issues in which she is interested." - Canadian Journal of Philosophy

"Even within the feminist framework, our definitions, knowledge, perceptions, and treatments of disabilities require rethinking. A well-informed deconstruction." - Ms. Magazine

"The Rejected Body makes an important contribution of feminist and disability literature and provides an interesting look at a topic that has been considered as other by many writers and researchers." - Women and Health.

"Wendell's book lends extra voice to the position that we need to re-conceptualize human worth in order to arrive at an ethic that can provide for a broad range of life experiences." - American Reporter

"...the author ponders the definition of disability and the social and cultural factors that create it... The book is highly recommended to those who are, have been, or will be disabled in any way (which as Wendell points out, includes nearly all of us). It is also recommended to everyone else." - Philosophy in Review

"The Rejected Body is a must-read for anyone interested in important human differences of which philosophy has heretofore been ignorant." - Ethics

Title: The Rejected Body: Feminist Philosophical Reflections on Disability

Paperback: 216 pages

Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (July 2, 1996)

Language: English
ISBN-10: 0415910471
ISBN-13: 978-0415910477

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Wendell's "The Rejected Body" stands as a pivotal contribution to both feminist and disability scholarship, urging a reevaluation of how society perceives and engages with disability. Her integration of personal narrative with philosophical analysis not only humanizes the discourse but also underscores the necessity of including diverse bodily experiences in ethical and theoretical considerations. This work challenges readers to confront their own assumptions and to recognize the value of perspectives that have been historically marginalized. As populations age and the prevalence of chronic conditions increases, Wendell's insights become ever more pertinent, advocating for a more compassionate and inclusive societal approach to disability - 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.

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Citing and References

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Cite This Page: Disabled World. (2009, July 3 - Last revised: 2025, May 29). The Rejected Body: Feminist Philosophical Reflections on Disability. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved October 30, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/publications/rejected-body.php

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