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.

摘要

本文采用史学方法回顾埃及学和埃及考古学与古埃及残疾和身体差异研究相关的相关领域。我们结合严重残疾研究和体现理论来考虑能力歧视是否在这些学科中普遍存在。这项研究的重点已经从“识别”残疾转向了。相反，我们的主要驱动问题是：埃及学对身体差异和残疾的研究方法是否有助于埃及学中体能主义的产生和维持？在这里，我们首先在众多方法论中识别体能主义叙述，强调需要重新考虑有关古代残疾研究的现有方法、术语、模型和假设。