Disability, Inequality & Life Chances (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Sociology): Revision Note

What is disability?

• A disability is when a person has a physical or mental impairment that has a long-term effect on their ability to do everyday activities

• Disabled people may face barriers that prevent full participation in society

• Sociologists argue that disability is socially constructed, i.e. its meaning depends on how society treats disabled people

• Life chances consequence:

  • Discrimination, exclusion, and lack of accessibility can limit disabled people’s opportunities in education, work, and daily life

The medical model of disability

• The medical model views disability as a problem within the individual

• It sees the person as needing treatment or a cure to “fix” their condition

• The focus is on what the individual cannot do, rather than what society can do to include them

  • E.g. a person who uses a wheelchair is seen as limited by their impairment, rather than by the lack of ramps or lifts

• Life chances consequence:

  • This view can lead to stigma and exclusion, making people feel dependent and powerless instead of supported and valued

The social model of disability

• The social model, developed by Mike Oliver (1983), argues that disability is caused by society’s barriers, not by the person’s condition

• It focuses on removing obstacles — physical, social, and attitudinal — so that disabled people can fully participate

  • E.g. a visually impaired student can access learning if materials are available in Braille or audio form

• Disability charities, such as Scope, promote this model to encourage inclusion

• Life chances consequence:

  • When society removes barriers and changes attitudes, disabled people gain equal access to education, work, and independence

Education

• Children with disabilities may experience educational underachievement due to:

  • lack of resources or specialist support in schools

  • teachers’ low expectations and social stigma

  • bullying and exclusion from school activities

• Inclusive education policies aim to support disabled students, but provision varies between schools

• Life chances consequence:

  • Educational disadvantage limits qualifications, reducing future opportunities in higher education and employment

Work and employment

• Disabled people are more likely to face unemployment and discrimination in the labour market

  • The Equality and Human Rights Commission (2014) reported a disability pay gap of 11% for men and 22% for women

  • The TUC (2015) found that disabled women face a double disadvantage — gender and disability

• Many are forced into part-time work, or experience underemployment

• The Equality Act 2010 made it illegal to discriminate against disabled people at work, but inequalities persist

• Life chances consequence:

  • Lower pay, fewer job opportunities, and workplace discrimination reduce financial independence and long-term security

Income and wealth

• Disabled people are at higher risk of poverty because:

  • they often earn less or are excluded from full-time work

  • they face extra costs for care, transport, and equipment

  • the benefits system can be complex and stressful to access

• The Work Capability Assessment has been criticised for reinforcing stereotypes about “benefit dependency”

• Life chances consequence:

  • Lower income and higher living costs reduce disabled people’s ability to enjoy the same quality of life as non-disabled people

Mental health and wellbeing

• People with disabilities often experience poorer health outcomes, both physically and mentally

• Social isolation, unemployment, and stigma contribute to stress, anxiety, and depression

• Disabled women and those with mental health conditions face the highest discrimination rates

• NHS and public health services sometimes fail to make reasonable adjustments, reinforcing inequality

• Life chances consequence:

  • Inequality in healthcare access and social stigma can worsen existing conditions, reducing life expectancy and wellbeing

Media representation

• The media often reinforces negative stereotypes about disabled people by:

  • portraying them as helpless, tragic, or inspirational “heroes”

  • focusing on benefits and dependency rather than inclusion and achievement

• Sociologist Colin Barnes found that disabled people are often shown as objects of pity or fear

• Lucy Wood (2012) reported that only 2% of media workers were disabled, compared with 19% of the UK workforce

• However, representation is slowly improving:

  • Coronation Street introduced Izzy Armstrong, a wheelchair user with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

  • Comedian Rosie Jones, who has cerebral palsy, appears regularly on television and challenges stereotypes

• Life chances consequence:

  • Negative media portrayals reinforce prejudice, while positive representation can improve public attitudes and promote inclusion

Crime and discrimination

• Disabled people are more likely to be victims of hate crime than non-disabled people

• ONS (2024) recorded over 11 719 disability-related hate crimes in one year

• This could be related to media-fuelled moral panics — such as claims that disabled people were “benefit scroungers” — which increased hostility after the 2008 financial crisis

• Disabled people may also face difficulties accessing justice, including poor support from police and courts

• Life chances consequence:

  • Fear of harassment and discrimination can limit disabled people’s freedom, independence, and confidence to engage in society

Social exclusion

• Disabled people may experience social exclusion and marginalisation — being left out of education, work, and leisure activities

• Barriers include:

  • inaccessible buildings and transport

  • negative attitudes from others

  • lack of representation in decision-making roles

• This exclusion leads to isolation, loneliness, and dependency, particularly for people with mental health conditions

• Life chances consequence:

  • Social exclusion reduces participation, confidence, and access to key opportunities, reinforcing inequality

Sociological perspectives on disability, inequality & life chances

Marxism

• Marxists argue that society values people based on their economic productivity

• Disabled people are treated as less valuable because they are seen as not contributing to capitalist profit

  • This leads to exclusion and discrimination in employment

• The benefits system and charity appeals may appear supportive, but they reinforce dependence rather than equality

• Laws such as the Disability Discrimination Act (1996) and Equality Act (2010) aim to help, but inequality persists due to capitalist priorities

• Disabled people face structural barriers rooted in class inequality and capitalism, keeping them at a disadvantage

Functionalism

• Functionalists view society as a system where everyone performs a role

• Disability can be seen as dysfunctional if it prevents individuals from fulfilling expected roles, e.g. employment

• However, functionalists also recognise that welfare policies, education and healthcare can help integrate disabled people into society

• When barriers are removed, inclusion strengthens social stability

• According to functionalists, societies function better when disabled people are supported to participate — exclusion weakens the whole system

Feminism

• Feminists highlight the double disadvantage faced by disabled women:

  • Gender inequality plus discrimination due to disability

  • Disabled women are more likely to work part-time or in low-paid jobs

  • Many are carers as well as being disabled themselves — facing a triple burden of gender, disability and poverty

• Older disabled women are especially vulnerable to isolation and poor pensions

• Feminists argue for more recognition of disabled women’s experiences in employment, healthcare and media