Back to Search
Start Over
Ableism versus free speech in Australia: challenging online hate speech toward people with Down syndrome.
- Source :
- Disability & Society; Oct/Nov2023, Vol. 38 Issue 9, p1711-1733, 23p
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Negative, ableist discourse challenging the rights of people with Down syndrome to receive support services and even to be born regularly arise on social media. This disability community has retaliated against such hate speech with resistance narratives that promote the value of people with Down syndrome, with few other recourses available. This article explores online free speech versus ableism in Australia through a major case study of 60 Minutes Australia Facebook discussions. Analysis identifies types of ableism expressed, types of harm caused and dimensions of grassroots responses. Using Timothy Garton Ash's 2016 work Free Speech as a basis for contemporary analysis, we discuss: to what extent should harmful and offensive comments directed at vulnerable populations be tolerated in the name of free speech; might negative, ableist discourse contribute to any social good; and what mechanisms beyond grassroots resistance narratives might effectively respond to harmful, online ableist discourses. The article looks at whether the right to free speech is more important than the harmful effects of online hate speech towards people with Down syndrome. We use the ideas in a book on Free Speech by Timothy Garton Ash to think about whether online hate speech should be allowed or silenced. Our analysis is based on a case study of Facebook discussion threads from a 60 Minutes Australia television segment. People in the disability community speaking up to create resistance narratives is the main way that online disability hate speech is challenged. Other ways that could help are laws, government agencies providing support materials, and social media rules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- SPEECH -- Law & legislation
EXPERIMENTAL design
TEACHING methods
SPEECH therapy
SOCIAL support
PRENATAL diagnosis
PATIENT advocacy
DISCRIMINATION (Sociology)
INTERNET
DOWN syndrome
RESEARCH methodology
SOCIAL media
DEBATE
PUBLIC administration
INTERVIEWING
CONCEPTUAL structures
CASE studies
QUALITY of life
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
PATIENT-family relations
QUESTIONNAIRES
DISCOURSE analysis
PEOPLE with disabilities
CIVIL rights
EMOTIONS
SOCIAL skills
MEDICAL research
ATTITUDES toward disabilities
LOBBYING
PUBLIC opinion
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09687599
- Volume :
- 38
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Disability & Society
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 172839736
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2022.2041402