Al‐Ma'brouk in rural Egypt: a socially constructed identity

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the meaning of the socially constructed identity of Al‐Ma'brouk in rural Egypt.Design/methodology/approachThe principal qualitative tool of data collection included intensive interviews with a sample of ten parents from two villages in lower Egypt.FindingsThe two main outcomes which emerged from the research were first, the social construction of intellectual disability in rural Egypt has contributed to the emergence of a distinctive culturally‐mediated social identity called Al‐Ma'brouk, or the “blessed”, with ascribed social roles; and second, this socially constructed identity has a positive impact on the families of intellectually disabled children.Research limitations/implicationsThe first finding concerning the local social construction of intellectual disability corresponds to previous research on how culture shapes “disability”. The second finding that ascribed social roles of intellectually disabled children have rooted social rationalizations raises a general question concerning how rural communities in Egypt justify and cope with intellectual disability.Originality/valueMany studies on intellectually disabled children overlook their social roles in society, and mainly envision disability as a barrier and a familial adversity. The paper contributes to the debate that intellectual disability is a social construction rather than a limiting factor.