Ableism: The Many Manifestations of Disability Prejudice

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Disability

Abstract

Ableism is a complex and evolving phenomenon encompassing benevolent, paternalistic, ambivalent, and hostile attitudes, and behavioral practices based on perceived disability status. Ableism can be expressed deliberately or unintentionally through individual beliefs, emotions, and organizational policies that discriminate against people based on their presumed ability/disability. To date, the scientific literature has investigated ableism as a predominantly negative set of explicit attitudes about disability or disabled people as a group. Yet, legislative changes to improve disability rights and increase access and inclusion have revealed more modern manifestations of ableism, including sympathetic, envious, exploitative, and even brutal cases of hate. The following paragraphs illustrate the more common manifestations of ableism along with some of its antecedents and consequences.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

References

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michelle R. Nario-Redmond .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Section Editor information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Nario-Redmond, M.R. (2024). Ableism: The Many Manifestations of Disability Prejudice. In: Bennett, G., Goodall, E. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Disability. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40858-8_8-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40858-8_8-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-40858-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-40858-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Navigation