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The Normality Of Doing Things Differently: Bodies, Spaces And Disability Geography

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  • NANCY HANSEN
  • CHRIS PHILO

Abstract

This paper reflects upon treatments of the body in both disability studies and disability geography, taking seriously the impaired body in its immediate materiality: in its flesh‐and‐boneness, in how it deals with everyday practices in everyday places, as this embodiment is ‘voiced’ by disabled people themselves. The paper discusses Hansen's in‐depth research with a sample of disabled women living in Scotland and Canada, teasing out their experiences of coping with impaired bodies in non‐disabled spaces. Particular attention is given to their own bodily practices, complete with ‘timings and spacings’ that may depart from what is supposedly normal for non‐disabled people. It is also shown how these women resist ableist accommodations that entail both modifying external spaces and ‘correcting’ bodily differences. The paper concludes by identifying a key but neglected step within the ‘politics’ of better accommodating disabled people: namely, shifting the emphasis from (aiding disabled people in) doing things ‘normally’ to (underlining for all of ‘us’) simply the normality of doing things differently.

Suggested Citation

  • Nancy Hansen & Chris Philo, 2007. "The Normality Of Doing Things Differently: Bodies, Spaces And Disability Geography," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 98(4), pages 493-506, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:tvecsg:v:98:y:2007:i:4:p:493-506
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9663.2007.00417.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Rob Imrie, 2012. "Auto-Disabilities: The Case of Shared Space Environments," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 44(9), pages 2260-2277, September.
    2. Louise Holt & Jennifer Lea & Sophie Bowlby, 2012. "Special Units for Young People on the Autistic Spectrum in Mainstream Schools: Sites of Normalisation, Abnormalisation, Inclusion, and Exclusion," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 44(9), pages 2191-2206, September.
    3. Rianne Van Melik & Nick Althuizen, 2022. "Inclusive Play Policies: Disabled Children And Their Access To Dutch Playgrounds," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 113(2), pages 117-130, April.
    4. Boyle, Louise E., 2019. "The (un)habitual geographies of Social Anxiety Disorder," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 31-37.
    5. Davidson, Joyce, 2010. "'It cuts both ways': A relational approach to access and accommodation for autism," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(2), pages 305-312, January.
    6. Jeffries, Jayne M., 2018. "Negotiating acquired spinal conditions: Recovery with/in bodily materiality and fluids," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 61-69.
    7. van Hoven Bettina & Elzinga Maaike, 2009. "‘Bikes are Such a Nuisance’ - Visually Impaired People Negotiating Public Space in Groningen," European Spatial Research and Policy, Sciendo, vol. 16(1), pages 131-144, June.
    8. Phoenix, Cassandra & Bell, Sarah L., 2019. "Beyond “Move More”: Feeling the Rhythms of physical activity in mid and later-life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 47-54.

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