Recognising inequality: ableism in Egyptological approaches to disability and bodily differences

ABSTRACT

This paper employs a historiographical approach to review the allied fields of Egyptology and Egyptian Archaeology in relation to studies of disability and bodily differences in ancient Egypt. We incorporate critical disability studies and embodiment theories to consider whether ableism is prevalent across these disciplines. The focus of this study has been inverted from ‘identifying’ disability. Instead our primary driving question is: are Egyptological approaches to bodily differences and disabilities contributing to a production and maintenance of ableism in Egyptology? Here we first identify ableist narratives within numerous methodologies highlighting the need to reconsider existing approaches, terminologies, models, and assumptions regarding studies of disability in the ancient past. We then challenge readers to recognise ableism as a form of inequality in the existing scholarship, and in turn, call for better awareness of assumptions relating to bodily norms, terminologies, and inclusivity in ancient world studies.

KEYWORDS:

• Disability
• ableism
• inequality
• Egyptian archaeology

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the editors for their feedback, which has greatly improved this piece. Hannah Vogel would like to offer sincere thanks to her peers and community members, for their encouraging discussions and disability activism. We also thank the anonymous peer reviewers and editors for their helpful feedback; any errors remain our own.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hannah Vogel

Hannah Vogel is a researcher and teaching academic based at the Department of History and Archaeology at Macquarie University and Centre Manager of the Centre for Ancient Cultural Heritage and Environment (CACHE). Hannah is researching disability in ancient societies, especially ancient Egypt. Her research in the present article focuses on scholarly approaches towards disability in ancient world studies, particularly ableist narratives in Egyptology. Her research seeks interdisciplinary communication between humanities and science, especially in bioarcheology, history, and disability studies. She is also an advocate for accessibility in history and archaeology.

Ronika K. Power

Ronika K. Power is Professor of Bioarchaeology in the Department of History and Archaeology at Macquarie University, and the Director of the Centre for Ancient Cultural Heritage and Environment (CACHE). Ronika is an elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries London and the Royal Society of New South Wales, and one of the 30 inaugural Superstars of STEM for Science and Technology Australia.