The ableism language is one of the issues discussed and illustrated by Jim Ferris in his poem “Poems with Disabilities.” It is a serious issue that has been challenged by many authors and researchers. Ableist language should be countered since it implies that individuals with impairments are not normal. Ableism is more than a list of terms we should avoid using; paying attention to language may help us realize how deeply ingrained ableism is in our society.
Language is fluid and multidimensional, evolving as quickly as societal conventions, attitudes, and integration chances. Any statement or phrase that devalues individuals with impairments is referred to as ableist vocabulary (Bogart & Dunn, 2019). The majority of ableism language includes negative terminology or metaphors (Ferris, 2004). This supports the context that persons with disabilities are smaller than everyone else, perpetuating the perception that disability is a bad experience (Hadar, 2021). Sometimes, a person is not aware of the usage of the words, which can lead to unlikely consequences.
Poems of Disabilities by Jim Ferris elaborate on the issue in a non-traditional way, using metaphors, hidden messages, and double-edged meanings. Indeed, this is the art of poetry and literature to expose serious issues in a seemingly simple form. However, the feelings of the author and the surrounding settings in almost every piece of literature begin to look different when delving into the literary devices employed. The poet constantly tries to engrave his feelings and reflections into words, but it is only up to the reader how they will be received and how they will be understood.
The same issue happens with ableism when many people probably heard of the issue, but they seem to be just uncomfortable with the topic itself and rather pretend that they do not understand it properly. “The world tilts a little, angle of vision jumps, your entrails are not where you left them” (Ferris, 2007, lines 19-22) – Ferris attempts to show that for people with disabilities, the world does not feel the same as for others. When regular people see provocative words, deliberately or non-deliberately attempting to hurt them, the world tilts as well, and the angle becomes different. This is good evidence for the argument of the need to eliminate the issue of ableism. People with disabilities feel the same when it comes to the Ableists’ language.
Language is, by its very nature, political. The language we use to communicate thoughts and feelings and to characterize ourselves and others reflects and impacts attitudes, both for individuals and larger social groupings (Bogart & Dunn, 2019). Many of these phrases are used casually, and many people do not feel their connection with different hardships. “Maybe yesterday’s twinge means something after all. Your sloppy, fragile heart beats a little faster” (Ferris, 2007, lines 25-28) – in this passage, Ferris attempts to raise awareness of the ignorance of the ableism. This argument becomes a focal point as the need to raise awareness of the issue is acute. While many people are concerned about the racial and sexual repercussions of different words and titles, people with disabilities are often left aside. This became the primary reason to put the poem in the place where it is – in “one of the best spaces in the book” (Ferris, 2007, line 3). Given how deeply established ableism is in our culture, eliminating it may appear to be an impossible undertaking. Language evolves gradually, and countering the issue of ableism is a long-term goal.
References
Bogart, K. R., & Dunn, D. S. (2019). Ableism special issue introduction. Journal of Social Issues, 75(3), 650-664.
Ferris, J. (2007). Poems with disabilities. Ragged Edge.
Ferris, J. (2004). The enjambed body: A step toward a crippled poetics. The Georgia Review, 58(2), 219-233.
Hadar, D. (2021). Language and Disability, an interview with Dana Dimant (Minor Literature class 8) [Video]. YouTube. Web.