Jasmine Bethea RE: Discussion 2 - Week 9 COLLAPSE The social construction of disability is the idea that society and its institutions have power it constructs disability around social expectations of health (Freidson, 1970). We construct our social environments and the way we understand and interact with people by the words we use and the actions we take in social situations. This idea is what causes disabilities to be overlooked or not thought of as serious enough for certain benefits or needed services.  In the Parker video Stephanie mentioned being depressed and suicidal and has even tried to discuss these things with her family but they do not care to listen or discuss it. Mental health is a disability, however, people in society do exactly what Stephanie’s family did, not care to address it or take it seriously. Disability is socially constructed by failure to give people the amount and kind of help they need to participate fully in all major aspects of life in society (Wendell, 2013). Stephanie is not only dealing with depression and bipolar disorder, but she is also taking care of her mother full time. She mentioned feeling smothered because her mother is always there, and they always argue, her disabilities affect this even more because she is does not have a hold on how to cope with the stress she is feeling. She is also taking a lot of medicine which can affect her ability to fully function. Her place and experience in society has always been affected, from getting shut out by her parents regarding how she was feeling, to now battling with her own disabilities while taking care of her mother. It has been proven to be detrimental for her due to being hospitalized multiple times from the overwhelming stress.  Stephanie may be oppressed in the sense that she may not be able to work as needed due to her disabilities and caring for her mother, but she is still having to buy medicine which may be putting a strain on her finances. Stephanie needs to get her own disabilities under control before she can take care of someone else. She needs proper services and be taught coping skills that will reduce her anger and stress.  References Freidson, Eliot (1970). Profession of Medicine: A Study of the Sociology of Applied Knowledge. Harper and Row Inc. pp. 205–207.  ISBN 0-06-042205-X .    Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Sessions: Case histories. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].  Wendell, S. (2013). The social construction of disability. In M. Adams, W. J. Blumenfeld, C. Castaneda, H. W. Hackman, M. L. Peters, & X. Zuniga, Readings for Diversity and Social Justice (pp. 481-485). New York, New York: Routledge. REPLY QUOTE EMAIL AUTHOR 5 hours ago Florence Ngenue RE: Discussion 2 - Week 9 COLLAPSE According to Encyclopedia.com social construct is an idea or believe that appears to be natural and obvious to those who accept it and may not be a reality. ...

1. Jasmine Bethea
RE: Discussion 2 - Week 9
COLLAPSE
The social construction of disability is the idea that society and
its institutions have power it constructs disability around social
expectations of health (Freidson, 1970). We construct our social
environments and the way we understand and interact with
people by the words we use and the actions we take in social
situations. This idea is what causes disabilities to be overlooked
or not thought of as serious enough for certain benefits or
needed services.
In the Parker video Stephanie mentioned being depressed and
suicidal and has even tried to discuss these things with her
family but they do not care to listen or discuss it. Mental health
is a disability, however, people in society do exactly what
Stephanie’s family did, not care to address it or take it
seriously. Disability is socially constructed by failure to give
people the amount and kind of help they need to participate
fully in all major aspects of life in society (Wendell, 2013).
Stephanie is not only dealing with depression and bipolar
disorder, but she is also taking care of her mother full time. She
mentioned feeling smothered because her mother is always
there, and they always argue, her disabilities affect this even
more because she is does not have a hold on how to cope with
the stress she is feeling. She is also taking a lot of medicine
which can affect her ability to fully function. Her place and
experience in society has always been affected, from getting
shut out by her parents regarding how she was feeling, to now
battling with her own disabilities while taking care of her
mother. It has been proven to be detrimental for her due to
being hospitalized multiple times from the overwhelming stress.

2. Stephanie may be oppressed in the sense that she may not be
able to work as needed due to her disabilities and caring for her
mother, but she is still having to buy medicine which may be
putting a strain on her finances. Stephanie needs to get her own
disabilities under control before she can take care of someone
else. She needs proper services and be taught coping skills that
will reduce her anger and stress.
References
Freidson, Eliot (1970). Profession of Medicine: A Study of the
Sociology of Applied Knowledge. Harper and Row Inc.
pp. 205–207.
ISBN
0-06-042205-X
.
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. M. (Eds.).
(2014). Sessions: Case histories. Baltimore, MD: Laureate
International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
Wendell, S. (2013). The social construction of disability. In M.
Adams, W. J. Blumenfeld, C. Castaneda, H. W. Hackman, M. L.
Peters, & X. Zuniga, Readings for Diversity and Social
Justice (pp. 481-485). New York, New York: Routledge.
REPLY
QUOTE
EMAIL AUTHOR
5 hours ago
Florence Ngenue

3. RE: Discussion 2 - Week 9
COLLAPSE
According to Encyclopedia.com social construct is an idea or
believe that appears to be natural and obvious to those who
accept it and may not be a reality. The implication of the social
construction of disability is the notion that society and its
institution have the power to define disability around social
expectation of health. Individuals with disabilities are labeled
as being divinely punished or a side effect of a moral failing
being physically or biologically different.
Describing how disability can be define as a social construct is
looking at disability the way society assumes it to be. Some
assume disability limits functioning. They assume those with
disability need to always be help and can’t do for themselves.
Most people like me will want to always stop to offer extra help
to those who are disable but what we are ignorant about is that
some disabled person can do for themselves. Therefore,
disability is socially constructed by failure to give those
concern the help the need to participate fully in all major
aspects of life in the society (Adams, et. al., 2018)
This idea of social construct of disability is what causes
disabilities to be overlooked or not thought of as serious enough
for certain benefits or needed services. In case of the Parker
family, Stephanie mentioned being depressed and suicidal and
has tried to talk it with her family, but they did not listen or
take her serious to discuss it (Plummer & Brocksen, 2014).
Mental health is also a disability, people turn to treat those
suffering from it as Stephanie’s family did. It is not being
addressed or taken seriously. Thus, they are not accorded the
necessary attention, services or resources needed
There is an intersection of Stephanie’s mental illness with other
characteristics of her identity. Stephanie is not only dealing

4. with depression and bipolar disorder she is also her mother’s
primary caregiver. She also has a part-time job. She feels
unhappy because of the constant argument between her and her
mother and her disability affect this the more because she has a
difficulty coping with the stress she is feeling. She is also on so
many medications which can affect her ability to function
properly.
These intersections could serve as further marginalization for
Stephanie’s place and experience in the society. Stephanie is a
48year old lady still living with her mother. She could be seen
as still a dependent at this age and thus, marginalized. Also
because of Stephanie’s mental illness some employers may not
want to give her a chance to work in their companies. Lastly
Stephanie could be marginalized by friends, colleague because
of her bipolar disorders. The could constantly be called her
names like that ‘bipolar’ behind her back and may not be taken
seriously because they may think it’s her disorder influencing
her actions.
This marginalization could affect Stephanie’s choices, use self-
determination and bean active agent with equitable status in her
interaction with other professionals in the following way: -
Stephanie has been looked down not only by her family but by
the society. Being surrounded by constant marginalization She
could believe and be what people assume her to be and thus
loosing her personality. Also, this could also affect her choices
as she will turn to make decisions based on what society has
labeled her to be. Her relationship with professional will be that
of lack of trust and challenging. The professionals may face a
lot of resistance from her if they try to help her be different
from what society has made her to believe.
Reference
Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Castaneda, C., Catalano, D. C.

5. J., DeJong, K., Hackman, H. W,... Zuniga, X. (Eds.). (2018).
Readings for diversity and social justice
(4th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge Press.
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. M. (Eds.). (2014).
Sessions: Case histories. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International
Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
"The Parker Family"