(In)visible bodies : An Anthropological Study on Systematic Ableism, Embodiment, and Identity

Abstract: Uppsala is the fourth biggest city in Sweden and is known for having a rich cultural life, beautiful landscapes, and a long history. Because of how Uppsala is built, infrastructure and urban planning limit people with mobility restrictions from being able to access shops, and well-visited locations due to the absence of accessibility adjustments or poorly constructed routes. This ethnographic study takes a phenomenological approach to emphasize the experiences and perspectives of those affected by mobility restrictions and those who feel peripheral in society in multiple areas, ranging from infrastructure to social stigma due to a society built upon systematic ableism. The thesis thus explores the body as a symbol and the experience of being (in)visible. The physical body's presence is acknowledged while the stigma of being disabled, and the social and environmental barriers one encounters when navigating public areas designed for normative bodies, remain invisible.Keywords: Embodiment, ableism, impairments, identity, agency.