Disability and the Social Importance of Appearance

Abstract

In this paper, I use a social view of disability developed by disability activist-scholars to encourage research in the textiles and clothing field. Early research on "clothing for people with special needs" occurred within a socio-political context dominated by a medicalized view of disability. A social view of disability is compatible with textiles and clothing scholarship on appearance and social realities. The paper includes suggestions for research directions that would benefit the disciplines of textiles and clothing and disability studies.