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Self as enterprise: digital disability practices of entrepreneurship and employment in the wave of 'Internet + disability' in China.

Authors :
Lin, Zhongxuan
Zhang, Zhi'an
Yang, Liu
Source :
Information, Communication & Society; Apr2019, Vol. 22 Issue 4, p554-569, 16p
Publication Year :
2019

Abstract

Situated in China's neoliberal context and its rapid development of information communication technologies (ICTs), this study aimed to examine how disabled people in China transformed themselves into new self-enterprising subjects in the wave of 'Internet + Disability.' In order to answer this question, this study tried to develop an analytical framework to illustrate the disability practices that situated in the ICTs and neoliberal context, underpinned by the discourse of 'self as enterprise,' and demonstrated by the practices of entrepreneurship and employment. Based on the research design of case studies and methods that included ethnographic participant observation and in-depth interviews, this study explained how a disabled entrepreneur, Mr. Yuan, took advantage of the wave of 'Internet + Disability' to realize his dream of entrepreneurship and face the uncertainties of a precarious entrepreneurship. It also explained how Mr. Yuan's employees achieved their dreams of employment but suffered the precariousness of enterprising subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1369118X
Volume :
22
Issue :
4
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Information, Communication & Society
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
134106097
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2018.1518470