A tentative definition of Social Devaluation

1. A tentative definition of Social Devaluation Module: Social Devaluation and its consequences

2. Devaluation is not the same as: • Being rude, impolite, discourteous • Disliking a person (we may devalue people whom we dislike, but we may devalue people whom we do not know) • Making demands upon a person

3. Social Devaluation Definition • The attribution of low, even no value • To a person or group • By another person or group • On the basis of some characteristic (usually a difference) • Perceived as negatively significant by the devaluer

4. How do people become devalued in the eyes of others? • Every society has certain qualities and conditions which are regarded as positive or negative • Some conditions are highly regarded in some cultures and not in others • The judgment depends on the particular society

5. Western Society values….. • Wealth, material possessions • Health, beauty, fitness • Youth, newness • Intelligence, competence and independence • Productivity and achievement • Individualism and choice • Pleasure

6. Typical Life Experiences of People who are Devalued • Identity reduced to that of an impairment • Likely to have low social status/standing • Likely to be rejected • Likely to be cast into negative social roles

7. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity • Burden: Of Charity, On others • Child: Eternally, Once again • Client (forever, for everything) • Sick • Garbage, Discard • Dead, Dying, Better off dead

8. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object

9. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal

10. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear

11. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule

12. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity

13. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity • Burden: Of Charity, On Others

14. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity • Burden: Of Charity, On Others • Child: Eternally, Once again

15. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity • Burden: Of Charity, On Others • Child: Eternally, Once again • Client (forever, for everything)

16. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity • Burden: Of Charity, On Others • Child: Eternally, Once again • Client (forever, for everything) • Sick

17. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity • Burden: Of Charity, On Others • Child: Eternally, Once again • Client (forever, for everything) • Sick • Garbage, Discard

18. The Major Negative Roles into which Devalued People Are Placed • Sub-human; Object, Animal, Vegetable • Menace, Object of Fear • Object of Ridicule • Object of Pity • Burden: Of Charity, On Others • Child: Eternally, Once again • Client (forever, for everything) • Sick • Garbage, Discard • Dead, Dying, Better off dead

19. Typical life experiences contd. • Marked or branded as different or deviant • Suspected of having other deviancies, deficits, impairments • Separated from others. • Being segregated, kept out, excluded

20. Forms of physical segregation/congregation • Physical exclusion (architectural barriers) • Physical segregation (separate facilities) • Physical confinement (prisons, nursing homes) • Physical ejection (banishment/exile) • Physical destruction (abortion, euthanasia)

21. Forms of social segregation/congregation • Avoiding interaction with the person (e.g. ignoring the presence of someone or pretending they are not present) • Using language, images or actions which degrade the age or status of a person (e.g. ‘talking down’ to a person, treating him/her as a child

22. Typical life experiences contd. • Loss of control of one’s own life and reputation • Disruption of relationships (friends, family, community) • Loss of natural, freely given relationships

23. Common forms of control of people who are devalued • Being kept dependent upon individual service providers or agencies • Having to deal with, and report to agencies, offices, authorities • Having to fill out forms, often without being able to cope with them • Being ‘labelled’ • Being moved about

24. Common forms of control contd. • Being forced to live in ghettoes or other ‘special’ places • Being otherwise confined, as in institutions, prisons • Having one’s associations controlled • Being disenfranchised (e.g. losing rights of typical citizens)

25. Typical Life Experiences contd. • Being denaturalized (not being seen as as citizen at all) • Not seen or treated as an individual • Poverty of material things and typical life experiences • Life wasted

26. Financial poverty • Most people who are devalued are poor • Wealth can be a defence against becoming devalued • The consequences of being poor add significantly to other devaluing conditions such as intellectual disability or mental illness

27. Poverty of life experiences • People who are valued gather and integrate their life experiences - it is the basis of our development and growth • People who are devalued, and who do not have typical life experiences are much more likely to have their lives wasted • Low (non-developmental) expectations are a critical element of life-wasting

28. Expressions of Brutalisation • Denial/withholding of treatment • Excessive/abusive use of drugs • Dumping people into community without support • Social marginalisation • Outright violence by families, workers, wider society

29. Expressions of Brutalisation • Outright killing • Encouraging or supporting suicide or euthanasia • These forms or expressions can be considered as a continuum which has increasingly serious consequences

30. An Internalised Sense of Worthlessness • Awareness of being a source of anguish to others • Personal insecurity • Dislike of self • Hatred & persecution of others, even ones supporters • Seeing self as a failure

31. Personal insecurity can take many forms: • Testing genuineness of new relationships • Inventing relationships • Searching for the abandoner • Seeking/demanding physical contact • Withdrawing from human contact • Turning hurt into rage or anger

32. Impact of social devaluation and wounding • It impacts at many levels (individual, family, service system, society) • It is not good for anyone at any level but particularly hurtful and harmful to people who are devalued and their families • We all experience some ‘wounds’ in our lives but there are differences

33. Heightened Vulnerability • We all experience vulnerability, but there are crucial differences between people who are valued, and those who are devalued • Devalued people live in a state of ‘heightened vulnerability’ • Negative life experiences which inflict people with devalued status can have a much more devastating impact

34. Strategies to address devaluation & wounding • We need to be conscious of our ability, both individually and collectively, to hurt or harm people who are devalued • We need to be aware of the need to compensate for ‘heightened vulnerability’ of people who are devalued • We need to be aware of the power of valued roles

35. Roles impact powerfully upon: • Image in the eyes of others (status & reputation) • Image in own eyes (self-image) • Acceptance & belonging • Associations & relationships • Autonomy & freedom

36. Roles impact powerfully upon: • Personal growth & development • Opportunities to make contributions to others & society • Material side of life • Lifestyle

37. Strategies to address devaluation & wounding • The importance of a developmental approach • The power of imitation • The power of positive imagery (it is not just what we do, but how it looks) • Helping people who are devalued to become, or remain, community members

38. Assumptions we need to consider: • That all humans have equal value & worth • People who are devalued have been given a raw deal; they deserve better • All humans have the potential, and are capable of growth & development • Devalued people are more vulnerable than typical community members

39. Assumptions contd. • Devaluation is a societal problem and needs to be addressed at a number of levels: • Individual • Family • Service system • Society

40. Assumptions about what should be: • Every person should be valued & seen as a human being • All human beings should be offered opportunities to have a ‘good life’ regardless of personal conditions • Concerted efforts are required to ensure that devalued people have opportunities to have a good life

41. Potential roles for workers: • Connector/reconnector to family, community, society • Interpreter of the person with a disability to community, and the community to the person • Facilitator of positive roles & interactions with members of the community

42. Potential roles for workers: • Role model for the person and the community • Advocate for the inclusion of the person in all aspects of community life (social & physical) • Protector against any actions which may exclude or segregate • Protector (as much as possible) against hurtful or harmful aspects of living in the community