Mental disability as a form of stratification
June 10, 2023
Context: Independent studies have thrown light to the fact that hundreds of people with mental illness are forced to work in Punjab’s farms manifesting as a form of modern slavery
Source: https://www.thequint.com/news/india/punjab-enslavement-of-persons-with-mental-disability-forced-labour
The sociology of mental disability examines the social aspects and implications of mental disabilities as a form of stratification within society. It explores how individuals with mental disabilities are positioned and treated in social hierarchies, and how this stratification affects their access to resources, opportunities, and social interactions. Here are key points to consider in understanding the sociology of mental disability as a form of stratification:
- Social Construction of Disability: Disability, including mental disability, is not solely a medical condition but also a social construct. Society plays a significant role in determining what is considered “normal” or “able-bodied.” The social construction of disability leads to the categorization and stigmatization of individuals with mental disabilities, resulting in their marginalization and exclusion from mainstream society.
- Stigmatization and Prejudice: People with mental disabilities often face stigmatization and prejudice, which further contribute to their stratification. Negative stereotypes and misconceptions about mental disabilities lead to social exclusion, discrimination, and limited opportunities for education, employment, and social participation
- Institutionalization and Segregation: Historically, individuals with mental disabilities were often institutionalized and separated from the rest of society. This practice resulted in their isolation and limited integration into mainstream communities. Though efforts have been made to shift towards community-based care, institutionalization and segregation persist in some contexts, perpetuating their marginalization.
- Intersectionality: The experience of mental disability is intersected by other forms of stratification, such as gender, race, class, and age. The intersectionality of mental disability highlights how multiple systems of oppression interact, resulting in unique experiences of disadvantage and discrimination. For example, individuals with mental disabilities who are also marginalized based on their race or socioeconomic status may face compounded forms of discrimination
- Power and Control: The stratification of individuals with mental disabilities is also influenced by power dynamics and control mechanisms. Society tends to disempower and exert control over people with mental disabilities, often through paternalistic approaches, restrictive policies, and medical interventions. This power dynamic further reinforces their marginalized status and limits their autonomy and self-determination.
Sociology of modern slavery and it’s typology
The
sociology of modern slavery examines the social dynamics and structures that contribute to the existence and perpetuation of modern forms of slavery. It seeks to understand the social, economic, and political factors that enable the exploitation and vulnerability of individuals, as well as the societal responses to combat modern slavery. A
typology of modern slavery can help categorize and understand its various manifestations:
- Forced Labor: This form of modern slavery involves individuals who are coerced or deceived into working under exploitative conditions. They may face physical or psychological abuse, restriction of movement, and debt bondage, where their labor is used to repay a debt that continually grows
- Human Trafficking: Human trafficking refers to the recruitment, transportation, and exploitation of individuals through force, fraud, or coercion. It encompasses both sexual exploitation and forced labor. Victims are often moved across borders or within a country and are subjected to severe forms of control and abuse.
- Child Labor: Child labor involves the employment of children in work that is harmful to their physical, mental, or social development. Children are often engaged in hazardous or exploitative conditions, depriving them of their rights, education, and a normal childhood
- Debt Bondage: Debt bondage, also known as bonded labor, occurs when individuals are forced to work to repay a debt that they or their ancestors incurred. They become trapped in a cycle of servitude, as the debt is passed down through generations, and their labor is exploited with little or no pay.
- Domestic Servitude: Domestic servitude involves the exploitation of individuals, often women and girls, as domestic workers within private households. They are subjected to long working hours, low pay, physical and emotional abuse, and are often isolated from the outside world.
- Child Soldiers: Child soldiers are children who are recruited or coerced to participate in armed conflicts. They are subjected to physical violence, forced labor, sexual abuse, and psychological trauma
- Forced Marriage: Forced marriage occurs when individuals, particularly girls and young women, are forced into marriages without their consent. They experience control, abuse, and restrictions on their freedom within the marital relationship.
Other relevant articles for the day
- Gender Budgeting in India
https ://www.orfonline.org/research/gender-responsive-budgeting-in-india-a-stocktaking/ Syllabus Mapping: idea of development planning and mixed economy, women
- Trade unions facing challenges in neo liberal era
https ://theleaflet.in/trade-unions-meeting-challenges-from-caste-and-religious-bigotry-in-a-neo-liberal-era/ Syllabus Mapping: Work and Economic life, Karl Marx
