The Importance of Addressing Internalized Oppression in the Disability Rights Movement

One topic that I have wanted to discuss here on the blog for a while now is internalized oppression in disabled people. I think it is a topic that does not get talked about enough in our community, for a couple of reasons. One reason is that it can be challenging and uncomfortable. The second reason is I think it is often misunderstood.

Internalized oppression is a negative script of shame and self-loathing that most, if not all, disabled people play about ourselves in our heads. It runs on a constant loop, formulated by the micro and macro aggressions we are subjected to in our very ableist society. It's what we tell ourselves about ourselves, and thus it impacts how we think and feel about ourselves. In short, we internalize all of the negative connotations we hear and see about living with a disability. That, therein, affects how we go about our lives in the world.

Wikipedia definition of internalized oppression: In social justice theory, internalized oppression is a concept in which an oppressed group uses the methods of the oppressing group against itself. It occurs when one group perceives an inequality of value relative to another group, and desires to be like the more highly-valued group.

I didn't learn about internalized oppression until my late 20's. I was working part-time at an Independent Living Center, and as a staff we occassionally talked about internalized oppression.. What it is, how it is damaging to our community, and things we could do individually and as an organization to combat it.

Like with most things, the first step is acknowledging it exists. Internalized oppression can be challenging to talk about because most people don’t want to think of themselves as being oppressed, and particularly that they are oppressing themselves. I think if you were to say to a disabled person, "You have internalized oppression," most would quickly reply with, "No, I don't. I am not oppressed. I make my own decisions. I have the freedom to do what I want. No one is telling me what to do." That is not the kind of oppression I am talking about here.

The kind of oppression I am talking about is much more insidious. It lurks below the surface. Let me try this analogy: if a person is a computer, they have the power to turn off and on, and a basic ability to run the keyboard and the screen, etc. But then there is the computer’s code: the language that tells the computer how to run. Internalized oppression alters disabled peoples' code. It makes us process information about ourselves and being disabled in shameful and negative ways, sometimes even very subconsciously.

I've thought about the challenge of internalized oppression for the disability community for a long time. I am convinced that it is one of the major issues preventing disabled people from having full and equal participation in society. In many ways, I feel it is more powerful than external factors like ableism, prejudice, bias, injustice, etc., because it is a self-worth narrative that comes from within. 

For instance, how can we demand stairs that are entrance into a building be changed into a ramp if we first don't believe we deserve access to the building? I believe it starts with a person loving themself so much, even in a wheelchair, that they don’t hesitate advocating for that ramp. Combating internalized oppression starts with disabled people valuing ourselves, our humanity, and our experiences enough to know we are worthy of equal access.

There are no simple or quick fixes to silencing internalized oppression, particularly when it comes to disability. There are real challenges to being disabled, and I'm not saying a disabled person has to love every aspect of their disability. What I am suggesting is not to allow a disability to determine self-worth. This untangling is truly a process that takes time and self-discovery. Building up a strong sense of disability pride is a formidable counter-narrative to internalized oppression.

I'll never forget when I was at a gathering at a friend's house, and several of us disabled folks were sitting around talking. One guy in a wheelchair spoke about how he wanted to be a school teacher but was talked out of it by a career counselor who questioned his ability to do something like reach the top of a file cabinet. The fact that he allowed this line of questioning to stop him from pursuing his goal of being a teacher is a prime example of internalized oppression. The career counselor tapped into his negative self-talk, which ultimately made him feel inferior to teach. When in reality, he may be a great teacher! Since when did the ability to reach the top drawer of a file cabinet become a prerequisite for educating?

When I think about how I've had to confront my own struggles with internalized oppression, it centers around care and accommodation. Specifically, not wanting to be a "burden" or a "bother" to others. Unfortunately, I think this "apologizing for accommodation" is relatively common among disabled people. Do any of these phrases sound familiar?

"I hate to be a bother, but...."

"I am so sorry, can you please..."

"I just hate being a burden to you, but..."

"If you don't mind, can you please..."

"Oh, I'm just so thankful that you even..."

I know I have uttered several of these phrases throughout my life-- although less and less as I've gotten older. I’m either doing better at silencing my own internalized oppression, or my IDGAF patience is waning thin.

Either way, these phrases give a glimpse into the internalized oppression that can exist inside the disabled. Keep in mind that I am not suggesting a disabled person has to be rude, abrasive, or demanding. It just means that we don't need to apologize for asking for what we need. It is an ableist society that tells us, or, makes us feel like, we need to apologize. We need to stop conforming to and validating that request. When we no longer freely offer apologies, society will stop expecting them. Recapturing and expressing our self-worth in this way is a small act of empowerment for sure, but I think it can be a critical first step.

The world may continue to tell the disability community that we are unworthy, but we don't have to keep believing it. I will continue to raise awareness on this issue and challenge everyone in my community to do the hard but necessary work to address internalized oppression in their own lives. Through both individual and collective action, I know we can build upon the disability justice progress achieved thus far for equal rights and inclusion.