ableist
Biased against disabled
Ableist describes attitudes, practices, or language that discriminate against or demean people with disabilities.
The term emerged from disability rights activism to name bias favoring able-bodied people: The building's design was ableist—no ramps, no accessible bathrooms.
Calling someone ableist suggests they're treating disability as inferior or abnormal: That joke is ableist.
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- stereotypeFixed oversimplified notion
- ignoranceAbsence of knowledge
- intoleranceUnwillingness to accept differences
bigotry · condescension · paternalism · narrow-mindedness · insensitivity · judgmental · superiority · entitlement
Insulting group label
cripple · invalid · handicapped · special · suffering · confined · wheelchair-bound · inspirational
Obstruction preventing passage
- inaccessibleCannot be reached
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
- segregationForced separation by group
inequity · unfairness · disadvantage · disenfranchisement · oppression · systemic · institutional · workplace
Painful awareness of failure
- tabooCultural or social prohibition
- labelingAssigning identifying markers
- ostracismBanishment from a group
- alienationState of being isolated
devaluation · scorn · disgrace · discredit · vilification · pity · burden · tragedy
Pleading for a cause
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- allyshipActive support for marginalized
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- intersectionalityInterconnected identity-based discrimination study
neurodiversity · empowerment · self-advocacy · representation · visibility · education · reform
prejudice
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- stereotypeFixed oversimplified notion
- ignoranceAbsence of knowledge
intolerance · bigotry · condescension · paternalism · narrow-mindedness · insensitivity · judgmental · superiority · entitlement · privilege
slur
Insulting group label
dumb · cripple · invalid · handicapped · special · suffering · confined · wheelchair-bound · inspirational · brave
barrier
Obstruction preventing passage
- inaccessibleCannot be reached
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
segregation · inequity · unfairness · disadvantage · disenfranchisement · oppression · systemic · institutional · workplace · hiring
shame
Painful awareness of failure
- tabooCultural or social prohibition
- labelingAssigning identifying markers
- ostracismBanishment from a group
alienation · devaluation · scorn · disgrace · discredit · vilification · pity · burden · tragedy · abnormal
advocacy
Pleading for a cause
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- allyshipActive support for marginalized
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
intersectionality · neurodiversity · empowerment · self-advocacy · representation · visibility · education · reform
- bigotsbigot, bigots, racist, racists, sexist
- intolerantbigoted, biased, prejudiced, discriminatory, intolerant
ableistinclusive
Covering all members
accessible · accommodating · accepting · supportive · welcoming
ableistprogressive
Favoring reform and innovation
liberatory · ally · emancipatory · intersectional · equitable