Tensions, perspectives and themes in disability studies

Abstract

The field of disability studies is now established to the degree that it ought to and in fact is opening up for a more critical and self conscious approach to ideas imported from other fields. This forms the background for the present article, which discusses some classical tensions within disability research. Building on the discussion of the social model, three such tensions are discussed: between theory and political action, impairment versus disability and between theoretical and empirical research. Two rather recent trends, intersectionality and juridification, are also discussed and the conclusion is that they should be seen as challenges to disability studies to be taken seriously; not just uncritically applied, but tested and challenged in a way that could also be beneficial for the general discussion about these issues. © 2009 Nordic Network on Disability Research.