Disability and Labour in the Twentieth Century: Historical and Comparative Perspectives

This book explores the history of disability and labor in the 20th century, highlighting the need to address the topic beyond regional boundaries. It investigates various historical settings and analyzes the multiple meanings of labor in different political and economic systems through the lens of disability. The contributors demonstrate that the nexus between labor and disability in modern, industrialized societies resists easy generalizations, with marginalization and integration often being two sides of the same coin. The book sheds light on less-studied examples from Scandinavian countries and Eastern Europe and provides a springboard for reflections on common experiences of disability and labor during the 20th century.

Format: Hardback
Length: 238 pages
Publication date: 30 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive volume delves into the intricate relationship between disability and labor, placing them at the forefront of historical inquiry. It presents fresh insights into the history of disability and labor in the twentieth century, emphasizing the importance of addressing this issue beyond regional boundaries. By bringing together historians and disability scholars from diverse disciplines and regions, the chapters explore various historical contexts, ranging from work cooperatives to disability associations and informal workplaces. Through the lens of disability, they analyze the multifaceted meanings of labor in different political and economic systems, shedding light on the complex dynamics that shaped this relationship.

The contributors to this book showcase that the interplay between labor and disability in modern, industrialized societies defies simplistic generalizations. While the experience of many disabled individuals has been characterized by exclusion from mainstream production, labor also played a crucial role in promoting integration and emancipation. Addressing a significant research gap in the field of disability history, which has traditionally been dominated by British and North American perspectives, the book offers valuable insights into less-studied examples from Scandinavian countries, Eastern Europe, including Czechoslovakia, Poland, the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, and Romania. By transcending national, cultural, and class boundaries, the volume provides a platform for exploring shared experiences of disability and labor during the twentieth century.

This book will appeal to scholars and students engaged in the fields of disability studies, sociology, and labor history, offering a rich and multifaceted perspective on this critical intersection. Its comprehensive approach and interdisciplinary approach make it an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of disability and labor in the past and present.

Weight: 492g
Dimension: 162 x 339 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032327532