The reinvention of disability: new metaphors in the nature of bodies

Authors

  • Bruno Sena Martins Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra

Keywords:

disability, Judith Butler, Annemarie Mol, Michel Foucault, Boaventura de Sousa Santos

Abstract

The concept of disability has been profoundly challenged in the last decades, both politically and epistemologically. On the one hand, there is the recognition that affiliation of certain differences under the concept of disability is nothing but a recent “invention” of Western modernity. On the other hand, is the assumption of the consequences of that construction for the people labeled as disabled? We establish dialogue with important contributions of critical theory, addressing concepts as “dividing practices” (Michel Foucault), “materialization” (Judith Butler), “the body multiple “ (Annemarie Mol) and “sociology of absences” (Boaventura de Sousa Santos), this article attempts understand how the notion of disability can be demobilized by insurgents readings of modernity and its hierarchies.

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Author Biography

Bruno Sena Martins, Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra

Bruno Sena Martins é licenciado em Antropologia pela Universidade de Coimbra e Doutorado em Sociologia pela mesma instituição. Tem dedicado o seu trabalho de investigação aos temas do corpo, deficiência, direitos humanos e pós-colonialismo. Investigador do Centro de Estudos Sociais desde 2011, é Co-coordenador do Núcleo de Democracia, Cidadania e Direito (DECIDe). É Co-coordenador executivo do Programa de Doutoramento "Human Rights in Contemporary Societies". É Co-coordenador do Programa de extensão académica "O Ces vai à Escola". 


No contexto do Centro de Estudos Sociais tem integrado a equipa de vários projectos de investigação dedicados a temas como os Direitos Humanos, Pós-colonialismo e a deficiência. No âmbito da sua pesquisa tem trabalho de campo realizado em Portugal, na Índia e em Moçambique. Realizou dois filmes documentais de divulgação científica.

Em 2006, publicou o livro 'E se Eu Fosse Cego: narrativas silenciadas da deficiência', galardoado com Prémio do Centro de Estudos Sociais para Jovens Cientistas Sociais de Língua Oficial Portuguesa. Em 2007 foi Research Fellow no Centre for Disability Studies (CDS) na School of Sociology and Social Policy da Universidade de Leeds.

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Published

2015-11-25

How to Cite

MARTINS, B. S. The reinvention of disability: new metaphors in the nature of bodies. Fractal: Journal of Psychology, v. 27, n. 3, p. 264-271, 25 Nov. 2015.

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 3 (2015): Dossiê Políticas Sexuais e de Gênero no Contemporâneo; Temáticas diversas

Section

Other Topics

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To the extent possible under the law, Fractal: Journal of Psychology has waived all copyright and related rights to the Reference Lists in research articles. This work is published in: Brazil.

To the extent possible under law,Fractal: Journal of Psychology has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to Reference lists in research articles. This work is published from: Brazil.