Eithne McLaughlin and Bronagh Byrne The Queens University of Belfast Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Working Paper 9 Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Disability and Equality: themes of sameness and difference & the challenges for theory and practice

Review and apply recent equality theorising for/to disability Review similarities and differences between disability and other social (in)equalities Consider strategic implications of sameness and difference for social politics of and scholarship about disability and equality Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Objectives of the paper

Absence of disability from equality theorising Absence of goal of equality from disability politics Preferred disclosure of inclusion; citizenship; social rights Policy context: Development of European ‘single equality approach’ Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast The Context

Impairment = abnormality of biological functioning Disability = the environmental response to abnormalities of functionings in the population population level is normal Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Definitions

Identity and identification Intimacy Independence Integration Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast The ‘Four Eyes of Disability’:

Disability is an administrative label/concept – rationing; access to services etc. The social welfare response to disability- individualistic; impairment/intervention oriented More a ascribed i.e. allocated than a chosen identity – imposed vs chosen ‘community’ (Williams, 1999) Implications, communicative justice, participation, equality mainstreaming Recognitional autonomy Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Identity & identification

The care and control complex Autonomy (moral; decisional; executional; recognitional) Language of interdependence and support/assistance Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Intimacy

Normality of interdependence; Legitimising human interdependence; vulnerability and need Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Independence

Normalisation and social inclusion or acceptance and celebration of difference? Become one of the majority or have the majority adjust to the minority? Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Integration

Ontological equality (basic, moral equality & security of the person) Equality of opportunity Equality of condition Equality of outcome Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Equality Theorising: Turner (1996)

Five main schools of thought: The ‘luck egalitarians – purpose of equality provisions is to moderate the ‘natural’ distribution of luck and good fortune, so that wellbeing/welfare becomes independent of the accident of luck (Cohen,Gough) The Virtuous life – purpose of equality and other social provisions is to provide everyone with the opportunity via the necessary capabilities and functioning's to create the good life of their choosing; (Sen, Naussbaum Fair equality of opportunity Communicative justice/equality of voice Equality of condition Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Equality Theorising at the start of the 21 st century

shared public value system of basic equality Base levels of equality of condition required in 5 dimensions/social fields: Respect and recognition; Resources; Power, participation and representation; Love, care and solidarity; Work employment, and learning; Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Equality Theorising: Baker et al (2004) ‘Fair equality of opportunity

Equality of voice of social groups (Young) (ideal speech and the rule of reason, Habermas) Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Equality theorising: Communicative Justice

What is social progress? What is human development? Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Unasked questions

Capabilities and functionings: under specification – ‘the indexing problem’ Basic capabilities – (Marx’s primary drives; Doyal and Gough’s basic needs) Internal capabilities – Marx’s secondary drives Combined capabilities – capability and environment = outcome Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Equality Theorising: Sen (1992); Sen & Naussbaum (2000)

Capabilities required for the virtuous life: Life Bodily health Bodily integrity Senses, imagination and thought Emotions Practical reason Affiliation Concern for other species Play Control over the environment (Source: Naussbaum, 2000: 83) Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Equality Theorising: Naussbaum (2000, 2005)

Promotion of respect and challenge to stereotyping Affirmation of community/group identities Facilitation of full participation and social inclusion Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Equality Theorising: Feldman (2002)

disability different to other inequalities in 4 main ways: relative importance of autonomy Importance and difficulty of care, love and solidarity Extent of imposed, ascribed identity and community Costs and scale of base levels of equality of condition Disability same as other inequalities in two main ways: Tolerate or assimilate difference of the minority Commonalities and harms of oppression and inequality. Equality and Social Inclusion in Ireland Project Project Co-ordinator: E McLaughlin, Queen’s University Belfast Disability Sameness and Difference Conclusions