Postmodernism, feminism and disability

Disability issues are achieving increasing prominence in Great Britain and the rest of Europe. However, many of the main arguments, particularly those emphasizing social barriers models of disability, are located within structuralist frameworks. This can be regarded as problematic, as poststructural and postmodern orientations challenge the basic tenets of such formulations. This article explores the making of links between modern and structural and postmodern and poststructural perspectives using a gendered analysis drawn from feminism. It then examines the applicability of the resultant analysis for disability issues, social work and research. In conclusion, it is suggested that the making of such links can enable us to accept and effectively utilize difference and diversity, contradiction, change and fluidity without losing sight of enduring social divisions and associated oppressive responses.