Ableism in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies: what is it and why should you care?

Hannah Vogel

doi:10.4324/9781003658290-2

Ableism in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies: what is it and why should you care?

Hannah Vogel

School of Humanities

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

Ableism and disablism are two forms of discrimination experienced by disabled people. This chapter explores these concepts in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (AMS). It examines what ableism can look like in our research, publications, and teaching. In doing so, this chapter demonstrates ways to recognise ableism in our study of the ancient past. While focused study of this form of discrimination is a recent development within contemporary Critical Disability Studies (CDS), this chapter addresses why this concept is so important to a field focused on the ancient past. How we can, and why we should, challenge ableism in Classics and AMS is considered throughout this chapter. It explains the harm caused by the overmedicalisation of disabled people in the past and the responsibilities of current scholars and educators in our disciplines to create more representative narratives of the ancient world and, thereby, more inclusive futures.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Disability activism in and out of the academy
Subtitle of host publication	classical studies, pedagogy and practice
Editors	Hannah Vogel, Cecily Bateman, Mar A. Rodda, Karl Mercer, Alexandra F. Morris
Place of Publication	London ; New York
Publisher	Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group
Chapter	1
Pages	9-29
Number of pages	21
ISBN (Electronic)	9781003658290, 9781040559819
ISBN (Print)	9781041110972, 9781041111030
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003658290-2
Publication status	Published - 2026

Publication series

Name	Classics In and Out of the Academy: Classical Pedagogy in the Twenty-First Century
Publisher	Routledge

Keywords

Disability
Classics
pedagogy
inclusive education
diversity and inclusion
education
accessibility
Disability studies
Classical Archaeology
Humanities

Access to Document

10.4324/9781003658290-2

1 Edited Book/Anthology

Disability activism in and out of the academy: classical studies, pedagogy and practice
Vogel, H. (Editor), Bateman, C. (Editor), Rodda, M. A. (Editor), Mercer, K. (Editor) & Morris, A. F. (Editor), 2026, London ; New York: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group. 120 p. (Classics In and Out of the Academy: Classical Pedagogy in the Twenty-First Century)
Research output: Book/Report › Edited Book/Anthology › peer-review

Cite this

Vogel, H. (2026). Ableism in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies: what is it and why should you care? In H. Vogel, C. Bateman, M. A. Rodda, K. Mercer, & A. F. Morris (Eds.), Disability activism in and out of the academy: classical studies, pedagogy and practice (pp. 9-29). (Classics In and Out of the Academy: Classical Pedagogy in the Twenty-First Century). Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003658290-2

Vogel, Hannah. / Ableism in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies : what is it and why should you care?. Disability activism in and out of the academy: classical studies, pedagogy and practice. editor / Hannah Vogel ; Cecily Bateman ; Mar A. Rodda ; Karl Mercer ; Alexandra F. Morris. London ; New York : Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2026. pp. 9-29 (Classics In and Out of the Academy: Classical Pedagogy in the Twenty-First Century).

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title = "Ableism in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies: what is it and why should you care?",

abstract = "Ableism and disablism are two forms of discrimination experienced by disabled people. This chapter explores these concepts in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (AMS). It examines what ableism can look like in our research, publications, and teaching. In doing so, this chapter demonstrates ways to recognise ableism in our study of the ancient past. While focused study of this form of discrimination is a recent development within contemporary Critical Disability Studies (CDS), this chapter addresses why this concept is so important to a field focused on the ancient past. How we can, and why we should, challenge ableism in Classics and AMS is considered throughout this chapter. It explains the harm caused by the overmedicalisation of disabled people in the past and the responsibilities of current scholars and educators in our disciplines to create more representative narratives of the ancient world and, thereby, more inclusive futures.",

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booktitle = "Disability activism in and out of the academy",

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Vogel, H 2026, Ableism in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies: what is it and why should you care? in H Vogel, C Bateman, MA Rodda, K Mercer & AF Morris (eds), Disability activism in and out of the academy: classical studies, pedagogy and practice. Classics In and Out of the Academy: Classical Pedagogy in the Twenty-First Century, Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, London ; New York, pp. 9-29. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003658290-2

Ableism in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies: what is it and why should you care? / Vogel, Hannah.
Disability activism in and out of the academy: classical studies, pedagogy and practice. ed. / Hannah Vogel; Cecily Bateman; Mar A. Rodda; Karl Mercer; Alexandra F. Morris. London ; New York: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2026. p. 9-29 (Classics In and Out of the Academy: Classical Pedagogy in the Twenty-First Century).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

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T1 - Ableism in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies

T2 - what is it and why should you care?

AU - Vogel, Hannah

PY - 2026

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AB - Ableism and disablism are two forms of discrimination experienced by disabled people. This chapter explores these concepts in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (AMS). It examines what ableism can look like in our research, publications, and teaching. In doing so, this chapter demonstrates ways to recognise ableism in our study of the ancient past. While focused study of this form of discrimination is a recent development within contemporary Critical Disability Studies (CDS), this chapter addresses why this concept is so important to a field focused on the ancient past. How we can, and why we should, challenge ableism in Classics and AMS is considered throughout this chapter. It explains the harm caused by the overmedicalisation of disabled people in the past and the responsibilities of current scholars and educators in our disciplines to create more representative narratives of the ancient world and, thereby, more inclusive futures.

KW - Disability

KW - Classics

KW - pedagogy

KW - inclusive education

KW - diversity and inclusion

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KW - accessibility

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KW - Classical Archaeology

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BT - Disability activism in and out of the academy

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CY - London ; New York

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Vogel H. Ableism in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies: what is it and why should you care? In Vogel H, Bateman C, Rodda MA, Mercer K, Morris AF, editors, Disability activism in and out of the academy: classical studies, pedagogy and practice. London ; New York: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group. 2026. p. 9-29. (Classics In and Out of the Academy: Classical Pedagogy in the Twenty-First Century). doi: 10.4324/9781003658290-2

Ableism in Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies: what is it and why should you care?

Abstract

Publication series

Keywords

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Research output

Disability activism in and out of the academy: classical studies, pedagogy and practice

Cite this