A systemic injustice that isn’t taken seriously and doesn’t receive enough attention is the failure to accommodate people with disabilities. Whether it be a job, school, or living day-to-day many people with disabilities not only have to deal with the stress of their disability but also not have equal opportunities. Not receiving accommodations makes life even more challenging and sometimes just impossible for disabled people to be able to achieve goals. An example of a specific systemic injustice for people with disabilities is that they are unable to get married to an able-bodied person without losing their benefits and resources. This law is extremely ableist as it assumes that because one is married to someone who can live life without these barriers, that person alone would be able to financially provide for themselves, their partner, and potential children. It also has to be considered that a disabled person will require more money for their medical bills and other things they may need that make life easier. Disabled people are already at a disadvantage and policies should protect them and make life more accessible. Nobody should have to give up getting married because they can’t afford to live life without their benefits. Both SSI and medicare are need-based therefore if a disabled person is married their partner’s income is taken into consideration for your eligibility. Disabled people are left to choose between their partner or these benefits that are needed. Many are left to get divorced and even live in different houses than their spouse. We need to continue to fight for marriage equality rights in all aspects so disabled people, who are already at a disadvantage, don’t have to make unfair decisions like this. They should be able to stay married and get benefits that keep them alive.
While researching this topic, I was able to make multiple connections to topics we have discussed in class. The one that stood out to me the most was Ahmad’s theory of othering. His theory relates to minorities not getting a chance to speak up for themselves or make a change in decisions made for them. Many disabled people have to watch their friends and family members get married and have weddings, while they are unable to because they risk losing the benefits that help them survive. It makes disabled people feel even more excluded and isolated from life. Of course, not everyone has plans to get married, but if they wanted to they should have an option too.
Sources:
Marriage Equality Is Still Not a Reality: Disabled People and the Right to Marry
- this source is important to my argument because it is showing multiple examples of disabled people not being accommodated properly and being stuck choosing between getting married or keeping the benefits they need.
https://www.specialneedsalliance.org/the-voice/what-happens-when-persons-living-with-disabilities-marry-2/
This source is important because it shows an example in great detail. It also includes the difficulties disabled people have to face, including but not limited to, the concern of wedding gifts, loss of health insurance, and loss of SSI.
This is a very interesting topic you chose and you did a great job of relating it to a concept we learned in class. I was unaware of the lack of benefits disabled people receive if they get married. It is unfair to them especially because they get to watch other people get married and not get to experience that for themselves. In this case, they are the “Othering” of society in that aspect because they are being treated unfairly by lawmakers who have not made it easy for them to receive coverage as an individual with a disability. It is very ableist and should be brought to more people’s attention that this is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed.
This topic is one that should be discussed more often. In one of my WGSS classes, we discussed the ableism and the rights/assumption towards people with disabilities. How people with disabilities are viewed today is extremely dehumanizing and a great example of Othering. We didn’t touch on marriage rights as much, so your post is beyond insightful. I believe a reality that comes with systemic injustice and Other are components like this, where those in privilege may not even think or be forced to think about how we could be impacted; which is why it’s so important to consistently push ourselves to be educated and actively work towards equal rights and comfortable living for all. Thanks for sharing!