Tokyo Para: Concern about meritocracy spreading
Lectures to think about a symbiotic society through the Tokyo Paralympic Games are held, and experts with disabilities are likely to attract attention to athletes with high athletic ability, which may spread the meritocracy that people with ability are evaluated He pointed out that we should pay more attention to the support that brought out its abilities.
At a workshop held by the Nippon Foundation in Tokyo on April 14, Shinichiro Kumagai, an associate professor of the University of Tokyo, who has a cerebral palsy and is studying the relationship between people with disabilities and society, gave a lecture.
In this context, Associate Professor Kumagai said that the Paralympics are a stage where disabled people compete for abilities, so the meritocracy and eugenic idea behind the case where 19 residents were killed at a facility for disabled people in Sagamihara city spread unintentionally. Pointed out that there is a risk.
He explained that it is important that people with disabilities can exercise their abilities with appropriate support and that everyone with or without the ability has the right to a dignified life. . Associate Prof. Kumagai said, "Currently, the Paralympic Games tend to be biased toward meritocracy. Knowing what kind of support has helped athletes perform may help reduce discrimination and prejudice against people with disabilities. Isn't it? "
In the future, Associate Professor Kumagai will continue to work with overseas experts to study the impact of the Tokyo Paralympics on society.