Between Politics of Life, Emancipation and Appearances. Questions Regarding a New Model of Social Policy of Disabled Persons Employment Cover Image

Pomiędzy polityką życia, emancypacją i jej pozorowaniem. Pytania o nowy model polityki społecznej wobec zatrudnienia osób niepełnosprawnych
Between Politics of Life, Emancipation and Appearances. Questions Regarding a New Model of Social Policy of Disabled Persons Employment

Author(s): Ewa Giermanowska, Mariola Racław
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: emancipation; life politics; social policy; disability

Summary/Abstract: Three processes are indicated in the article, which have an influence on the employment policies applied to disabled persons in Poland: (1) creating a community concept of counteracting exclusion (including the disabled in all spheres of social life), (2) changing educational policy (which has an impact on the level of education of the disabled persons), and (3) creating a Poland-wide employment policy (from protective measures to activation). The first process may be interpreted – in the words of A. Giddens – as an attempt to proceed from emancipation politics to life politics (at the level of the EU-idea which is recommended to the member states). The second process consists in individuals using structural possibilities as means of group emancipation of disabled persons in Poland (emancipation politics). The third is interpreted as an attempt to create institutional appearances of emancipation because of its scarce effects on the employment of disabled persons. The asynchrony of processes is discussed which results in social effects for the community, families and the disabled persons themselves, thus giving rise to new social problems instead of solving the old ones.

  • Issue Year: 213/2014
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 107-127
  • Page Count: 21
  • Language: Polish