ABLEISM ACTIVISM THEORY

EMERGING PERSPECTIVE IN LITERARY CRITICISM

Abstract

Critical disability theory was preceded by a good number of models of disability as instruments for analysing disability in various disciplines but rarely in literature. It is in an attempt to fill this gap that ableism activism theory is propounded in the present research. This new theory is found apt for critical analysis of ableism/ableism activism in literature. It comprises eight-point criteria for evaluating and classifying a literary work as ableism activism literature. Sembène Ousmane’s postcolonial novel Xala is used here to study ableism/ableism activism in the light of ableism activism theory. The findings of this research show that Xala meets satisfactorily the new theory’s eight-point criteria for evaluating and classifying a literary work in this dimension and so qualifies to be ranked as ableism activism literature.