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The Personal is Political – And Then What? Ideology, Representation, and Legitimacy in a Swedish Disability Organisation

Krantz, Oskar LU ; Melander, Stina LU and Bahner, Julia LU orcid (2023) In Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research 25(1). p.198-211
Abstract

Background: Who can or cannot claim to represent other members within the disability rights movement has been discussed for decades, mainly concerning being disabled as an eligibility prerequisite. Aim(s): The aim is to analyse arguments concerning representational claims within a Swedish disability rights organisation (DHR, Disability Human Rights). Method: Every member of DHR was given the opportunity to answer three open-ended questions. Answers were subjected to a qualitative content analysis. Results: Two main dimensions of arguments were found. The ideological dimension legitimises representation through lived experience or a human rights approach. The pragmatic dimension legitimises representation through relational claims or... (More)

Background: Who can or cannot claim to represent other members within the disability rights movement has been discussed for decades, mainly concerning being disabled as an eligibility prerequisite. Aim(s): The aim is to analyse arguments concerning representational claims within a Swedish disability rights organisation (DHR, Disability Human Rights). Method: Every member of DHR was given the opportunity to answer three open-ended questions. Answers were subjected to a qualitative content analysis. Results: Two main dimensions of arguments were found. The ideological dimension legitimises representation through lived experience or a human rights approach. The pragmatic dimension legitimises representation through relational claims or organisational necessities. Further analysis revealed a paradox: When a representative is required to have a body with certain characteristics, other knowledge-related aspects risk devaluation. Conclusion(s): Paradoxically, the organisation has a goal of rendering impairment irrelevant in society, while rendering impairment a main issue when electing representatives.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Disability rights organisation, elected representative, representation, Sweden
in
Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research
volume
25
issue
1
pages
14 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85163645659
ISSN
1501-7419
DOI
10.16993/sjdr.1001
project
Representation in the digital era: Democratic consequences of changing engagement in the Swedish disability movement
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2023, Stockholm University Press. All rights reserved.
id
d41af884-f6fb-43a8-8b25-553d6617565c
date added to LUP
2023-07-31 10:01:41
date last changed
2023-08-25 07:46:52
@article{d41af884-f6fb-43a8-8b25-553d6617565c,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Who can or cannot claim to represent other members within the disability rights movement has been discussed for decades, mainly concerning being disabled as an eligibility prerequisite. Aim(s): The aim is to analyse arguments concerning representational claims within a Swedish disability rights organisation (DHR, Disability Human Rights). Method: Every member of DHR was given the opportunity to answer three open-ended questions. Answers were subjected to a qualitative content analysis. Results: Two main dimensions of arguments were found. The ideological dimension legitimises representation through lived experience or a human rights approach. The pragmatic dimension legitimises representation through relational claims or organisational necessities. Further analysis revealed a paradox: When a representative is required to have a body with certain characteristics, other knowledge-related aspects risk devaluation. Conclusion(s): Paradoxically, the organisation has a goal of rendering impairment irrelevant in society, while rendering impairment a main issue when electing representatives.</p>}},
  author       = {{Krantz, Oskar and Melander, Stina and Bahner, Julia}},
  issn         = {{1501-7419}},
  keywords     = {{Disability rights organisation; elected representative; representation; Sweden}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{198--211}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research}},
  title        = {{The Personal is Political – And Then What? Ideology, Representation, and Legitimacy in a Swedish Disability Organisation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.16993/sjdr.1001}},
  doi          = {{10.16993/sjdr.1001}},
  volume       = {{25}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}