Who Wants Normal? The Disabled Girls' Guide to Life by Frances Ryan review
When Frances Ryan began writing her second book she could hardly have guessed that it would acquire a supercharged degree of relevance by being published in the immediate wake of another programme of brutal cuts to disability benefits, this time by a Labour government. Ryan's acclaimed 2019 debut, Crippled: Austerity and the Demonisation of Disabled People, was a piece of political reportage documenting the effects of austerity measures by coalition and Conservative governments, through a combination of research and first-hand interviews with disabled people whose experiences illustrated the human cost behind the statistics.
Who Wants Normal? takes a more conversational approach. A hybrid memoir-polemic-advice-manual, the book examines more personal topics such as body image, dating and relationships, specifically as these relate to disabled women. But if the personal is always political for women, this goes tenfold for women living with disabilities; as Ryan shows, even something as ordinary as going to the pub with friends can be a minefield for anyone who has limited mobility, sensory challenges or who uses a wheelchair. Almost every aspect of life for disabled women is affected by societal attitudes and basic infrastructure that can combine to deny access, from the intimate matters of sex and clothing, to more obviously structural issues of healthcare, education and representation, all of which she tackles here with robust analysis and wry humour.
In recent years, Ryan has become one of the most authoritative voices on representation and policy as they relate to disabled people in the UK, though she bridles at the fact that she is frequently described as the Guardian's 'disability columnist', 'despite this role not existing at the paper and my work focusing on politics'. As a wheelchair user from childhood, who now also lives with the effects of chronic illness, Ryan writes from a perspective still all-too-rare in mainstream publications – as she notes in her chapter on representation, 'disabled women working in the media are essentially like Superman and Clark Kent: you never see them in a room at the same time'.
She takes a broad definition of her subject, citing the statistic that almost a quarter of people in the UK say they have some form of disability; among her high-profile interviewees she includes not only women with visible physical impairments, but those living with 'hidden' disabilities such as Crohn's, ME or endometriosis, as well as bipolar disorder, depression and neurodivergence. 'No one really talks about what it is to be a disabled woman, especially a young one,' she writes, and in the chapter on relationships she discusses the importance of finding a community with whom you can discuss – and laugh about – shared experiences. This book is a way of offering that community to readers, who will find here stories to inspire, enrage and encourage from women with a range of disabilities who have successfully navigated careers in politics, sport, entertainment, medicine, psychology and media, often in spite of significant barriers. But it would be a shame if the subtitle deterred non-disabled readers, because there are so many accounts here that highlight issues that remain largely invisible to those who have not experienced them, and which need to be solved collectively.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the book, though, is its frequently celebratory tone. There is plenty to be angry about in the way disabled women are treated, as Ryan's blistering columns since the recent welfare cuts have shown, but Who Wants Normal? is also a defiant call to embrace what she calls 'disabled joy', to show disabled women living full and happy lives as a counter to the stereotypes. Non-disabled women could learn valuable lessons about self-acceptance and the radical rejection of beauty standards from her chapter on body image, and the women she has chosen to interview are the kind of role models Ryan says she wishes she had had growing up: a final chapter consists of pithy life advice from each of her main contributors, who include Jameela Jamil, Katie Piper, and Tanni Grey-Thompson, among many others.
At a time when disability continues to be misunderstood, questioned and vilified, Ryan offers a vision of how much disabled women already contribute to society, and how much more might be possible with a more imaginative shift in perspective, both individually and politically.
Who Wants Normal? by Frances Ryan is published by Fig Tree (£18.99). To support the Guardian and Observer order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply. The audiobook, read by Ruth Madeley, is also out now
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Reform is on course to WIN next General Election, new poll shows - as Nigel Farage's party takes nine-point lead over Labour
Reform UK is now on course to win the next General Election, a shock new poll shows - as they take a stunning nine-point lead over Labour. The voting intention for Nigel Farage 's party's was more than double that of the Tories, who languished in third with 15 per cent, compared to Labour's 25 per cent and Reform's 34 per cent. An Ipsos opinion poll highlighted the rocketing success of the party and rising contempt for Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves ' chaotic first year in power. Replicated in a General Election, the figures would give Reform an overwhelming 400 seats in the Commons - with a majority of 200, The Telegraph reports. Figures show that 54 per cent of Labour voters and 48 per cent of Tory voters have changed their support - with a high proportion of defectors from both going to Reform. Farage would become Prime Minister and there would be just 10 Conservative seats, while Labour would be reduced from 403 to 140. 'This poll shows Reform can and will win the next general election,' Farage told the broadsheet. Figures from the polling of 1,180 Brits show Labour's plunging popularity, after winning the 2024 General Election with the biggest majority since Tony Blair. But figures now show him to be the least popular prime minister at this stage of his time in office since records began. Just 19 per cent say they are satisified with the work he is doing - while 73 per cent are dissatisfied. In comparison, after the same amount of time Boris Johnson had an approval raiting of 48 per cent, Blair's was 68 per cent and John Major's was 54 per cent. The Conservatives' polling is also the worst since records began, with only 11 per cent of voters satisfied with Kemi Badenoch's work. Gideon Skinner, senior director of UK politics at Ipsos, told The Telegraph: 'Reform UK has continued to build on its success, helped by high levels of enthusiasm among its own support and among working-class voters in particular, and taking votes from both Labour and especially the Conservatives, who show little sign of recovery. 'The disappointment with Labour is clear, even among those who voted for the party in 2024.' It comes after the public swing of support tp Reform was dramatically shown in the local elections, scoring victory in a Runcorn by-election on the same night. In a night of jaw-dropping results, Reform UK claimed outright majorities in Staffordshire and Lincolnshire County Councils, toppling long-standing Conservative dominance.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Labour's plans to proscribe Palestine Action 'deeply authoritarian'
On Friday, the National told how Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to make the announcement on Monday, according to reports in Sky News and the BBC. It would effectively treat Palestine Action as a terrorist group and would make it illegal for people to join or express support. The decision comes after the group posted footage online showing two people inside the base at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The clip shows one person riding an electric scooter up to an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker and appearing to spray paint into its jet engine. READ MORE: Arab Strap on Kneecap, free speech and gigging in Glasgow The group said it took the action, which is now being investigated by counter terror police, as flights leave Brize Norton for RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus daily. The UK Government has been flying spy planes over Gaza from this location since December 2023. The Home Secretary has the power to proscribe Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act of 2000 – if she believes it is "concerned in terrorism" – but this must be debated and approved by both MPs and peers. The decision has been condemned by Amnesty International, which said it was "deeply concerned at the use of counter terrorism powers to target protest groups". "This is the latest in a succession of measures taken by the UK Government to clamp down on protest in the UK," the human rights organisation posted on social media. "Terrorism powers should never have been used to aggravate criminal charges against Palestine Action activists and they certainly shouldn't be used to ban them." 'Deeply authoritarian' Speaking to The National on Saturday, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said it was "impossible to overstate how backwards Labour's priorities are". He said: 'Labour's use of terrorism legislation against non-violent protesters is deeply authoritarian, and it's astonishing that a former human rights lawyer is doing this. Patrick Harvie 'Palestine Action have been accused by Keir Starmer of 'vandalism' – which the RAF said would have no impact on their operations. "It's obviously absurd that throwing red paint on things could cause a group to be listed alongside Al Qaeda, ISIS and Russia's Wagner Group, with membership carrying a 14-year prison sentence." READ MORE: BBC officially axes documentary on Gaza doctors over 'impartiality' concerns Harvie pointed towards comments made by human rights groups such as Amnesty International, which he said 'have rightly raised significant concerns over this aggressive use of powers that should be reserved for only the most extreme and dangerous organisations". He continued: 'And while Labour pull out all the stops to prosecute these protestors, they continue to train, arm and support Israel as it regularly and openly commits war crimes as part of an ongoing genocide. "It's impossible to overstate how backwards Labour's priorities are here.' Other politicians in Scotland have also joined in, with former first minister Humza Yousaf accusing the Labour Government of "los[ing] its conscience". Humza Yousaf He said: "If the UK Government believes those protesting against the atrocities in Gaza are terrorists, but those killing children should be supported and provided with weapons, then this Government has not only lost its way, it has lost its conscience." In a statement on Friday, Palestine Action said: "We represent every individual who opposes the Israeli war machine. "We represent every person that believes Palestinians are worth more than the tools used to kill them. READ MORE: Owen Jones: Opposing Israeli violence is 'extremist'? The world's upside down "We represent every person who stands for Palestinian liberation. "If they want to ban us, they ban us all." An emergency protest has been organised outside the UK Parliament on Monday from 12pm. It has been endorsed by more than 30 different groups, including Stop The War Coalition and the Campaign Against Arms Trade.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Why the ‘individual conscience vote' of MPs had its own assisted death last week
Two votes in the Commons split by four days laid the ground for a seismic shift in British social policy making last week one of the most significant in the modern history of Parliament. But while the votes on abortion (Tuesday) and assisted dying (Friday) were officially matters of individual conscience the evidence from both suggests that the UK is now closer than ever to a US-style party politicisation of moral issues. If you vote Labour or Lib Dem you are much more likely to get a pro-choice MP, if you vote Conservative or Reform you are more likely to get a pro-life MP. This is not an accident, it is increasingly by design. How parties voted on life and death On Tuesday the decriminalisation of abortion up to birth amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill laid down by Labour Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi won by 379 to 137. Of this 291 Labour MPs voted in favour and just 25 against while 63 Lib Dems were in favour and just two against. On the other side 92 Tory MPs voted against and just four in favour. Another four abstained by voting in both lobbies. No Reform MPs supported and four voted against. The split is not as stark on Friday's assisted dying vote but nevertheless reveals a trend. Kim Leadbeater 's bill had the support of 224 fellow Labour MPs with 160 against and 56 Lib Dems with 15 against. On the other side the Tories split 92 against to 20 in favour while Reform were three against and two in favour. Kemi Badenoch put a two line whip on the abortion vote rather than allowing a completely free vote. This indicated a party position without the threat of disciplinary action which would come with a three line whip. But, remarkably, after the abortion vote senior Tories were complaining that Ms Badenoch had not withdrawn the whip of the four MPs who voted for decriminalisation. It was different in 1967 The last time the UK saw Parliament vote on such seismic social change was back in 1967 with Liberal MP David Steel 's abortion legislation and Labour MP Leo Abse's Sexual Offences Act which decriminalised homosexuality. In both those cases parties split down the middle on conscience votes which saw the odd alliance of rightwing Tory MP Enoch Powell and leftwing Labour MP Tony Benn coming together to support legalising homosexuality. The Ed Miliband effect The erosion of the conscience vote in the UK has actually come more from a hardening of positions from progressive leftwing parties in Britain and exacerbated by the so-called culture wars. In 2012 Ed Miliband imposed a three-line whip on gay marriage on Labour MPs. LGBTQ+ matters ended there as something of individual conscience for the first time. Then in 2019 former MP Roger Godsiff was dropped as a Labour candidate for supporting parents in his Birmingham constituency who were protesting over primary school children being taught about same-sex relationships. This year we see Reform UK banning LGBTQ+ flags from county halls where they have taken control of the council and attempting to purge councils of diversity, equity and inclusion officers and policies. While abortion officially remained a matter of conscience a comment by the now home secretary Yvette Cooper in 2017 about Jacob Rees-Mogg being unfit to be a party leader because of his views on abortion was enlightening. What has happened over a number of years is that the majority of socially conservative, mostly Catholic tradition in Labour has been removed through selection processes. David Campanale versus the Lib Dems An ongoing legal case involving the Liberal Democrats and one of its former candidates has highlighted an apparent major shift in British politics to the party politicisation of conscience issues. Former BBC journalist David Campanale was kicked out as the candidate for Sutton ahead of the last election because, he claims, of his Christian beliefs. According to documents presented in the case, Luke Taylor, who replaced him as the candidate, is alleged to have claimed that 'the party of past prominent Liberal Democrats with Christian beliefs, such as Shirley Williams and Charles Kennedy, was 'over', and that he and others were building a 'secular party' which would have no place for Christians expecting to 'hold to their religious or conscientious opinions'. Mr Taylor was the teller for the votes in favour of the abortion amendment on Tuesday, who also described the assisted dying vote, which he supported, as a good way to 'neatly bookend the week.' If Mr Campanale wins his case it will for the first time provide evidence that selection is taking place on conscience issues as well as other matters. The Lib Dems have denied the claims and pointed out that their leader Sr Ed Davey goes to church. But the Christian Lib Dems including former deputy leader Simon Hughes have voiced concerns and the party has been condemned by two bishops. and a former Archbishop of Canterbury. Added to that Tim Farron, who voted against abortion and assisted dying last week, was ousted as leader over his Christian beliefs in 2017. During the assisted dying vote a number of supporters of the bill suggested that religious belief had no place in deciding such issues. A real departure from conscience. But a brand of conservatism is emerging in the UK which openly embraces traditional Christian values. Reflecting on the assisted dying vote, Tory MP Danny Kruger, a leading opponent of the bill, said: 'If we are to withstand our enemies, bring our society together, and tame the technium (somehow ensure that human values govern the new age of machines), we are going to need values that are up to the job. 'I don't think humanist atheism or progressive liberalism or whatever the new religion should be called, is up to it. Christianity is. Only Christianity is.' A warning from America In America, the conscience vote rapidly became more party-politicised as a result of the Roe vs Wade abortion ruling in in 1973. Social conservatives gradually began to take over the Republicans on the right and social progressives the Democrats. It has played out ferociously in the selection of Supreme Court justices, who recently in effect overturned Roe v Wade with a conservative majority. The most interesting US development is the way that a man like Donald Trump, previously ambiguous over abortion, has adopted a strong anti-abortion line to please his base. This played out in the 2022 midterms to the detriment of the Republicans with the Democrats using the threat to abortion rights to great effect. But it did little to help Kamala Harris in 2024. What that shows though is that parties with very strong views one way or the other can be elected largely on economic grounds but bring with them a great deal of baggage on conscience issues. After this week some would argue the same thing has happened in the opposite direction in the UK.
