Narratives of Ambivalent Meanings of Acquired Physical Disability in Japan

Masakuni Tagaki

doi:10.1177/2158244016666310

Abstract

Experiences of people with disabilities cannot be simply examined from positive aspects or negative ones; both aspects are required. This study examines the ambivalent meanings of acquired disability through a qualitative analysis of the life stories of Japanese men with spinal cord injuries. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 men who had sustained the injury over 10 years ago, at around the age of 20. The participants valued job and welfare or social activities, by managing their impairments. They regarded their personal disability issues as social ones and actively promoted social awareness. However, some of them recounted ambivalent experiences; they maintained the vision that they would become able-bodied people again, or were reluctant to participate in social activities, because they felt inferior to more socially active peers. Examination of ambivalent meanings of acquired disability is necessary for an understanding of the actual situation of people with disabilities.

Highlights

The current study investigated the long-term experiences of Japanese men with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) from a sociocultural viewpoint, in comparison with an earlier investigation, which was conducted through interviews
I used the criteria for participant recruitment, including the following in the work: (a) The participant’s age at the time of injury had to be approximately 20 years; (b) the time since the injury occurred had to be equal to or more than 10 years; and (c) the participants included only men; as previously mentioned, the ratio of men to women with SCIs is 4:1 (Shingu, 1995)
With regard to the method used for the previous interviews, I explained the purpose of the study with the leaders of the SCI support groups, and those leaders forwarded information related to members or acquaintances who could act as participants in the study

Summary

Introduction

The current study investigated the long-term experiences of Japanese men with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) from a sociocultural viewpoint, in comparison with an earlier investigation, which was conducted through interviews. According to the Japan Spinal Cord Foundation (2014), current estimates indicate that more than 100,000 Japanese citizens have sustained SCIs, and the ratio of men to women with SCIs is 4:1 (Shingu, 1995). Major welfare services are provided in accordance with the Services and Support for Persons with Disabilities Act of 2006. This law aims to assimilate people with disabilities into community life through a nationwide, systematic establishment of services and improved employment support. The COGJ shows that the actual employment rate of people with disabilities in private companies accounts for 1.76% of the workforce, but this

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