disadvantaged

Question

·disadvantaged: in socially or economically deprived circumstances. http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/disadvantage?view=uk Is that word 'disadvantaged' necessarily about something social or economic?Isn't it also possible that the word implies something developmental or physical?

Philip · Accepted Answer

Taka ·disadvantaged: in socially or economically deprived circumstances.

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/disadvantage?view=uk

Is that word 'disadvantaged' necessarily about something social or economic?

Isn't it also possible that the word implies something developmental or physical?

Yes. People have started using it in place of the word 'disabled' because it is seen as more politically correct. The word 'challenged' has also gained popularity in this respect.

Taka · Answer

Good. Then, if you saw the words 'disadvantaged children' without context, which interpretation (i.e. your default interpretation) would you come up with first?

(1) developmentally disabled children

(2) children with social/economic problems

Feebs11 · Answer

It will depend on context, but generally I would read this as referring to social disadvantage.

Goodman · Answer

TakaGood. Then, if you saw the words 'disadvantaged children' without context, which interpretation (i.e. your default interpretation) would you come up with first?

(1) developmentally disabled children

(2) children with social/economic problems

Because of political correctness, a lot of words have been created to soften up the harsh tone which actually are adding to the confusion of meaning for some.

If someone is described as physically challenged today, it was called “handicapped” 20 years ago. It basically means difficulty with movement or getting around:

.

Mentally challenged today, it meant he is not playing with a full deck of card, or playing with a deck with 3 jokers. Or simply called “a little crazy”.

Academically disadvantaged today, it meant having difficulty in learning, or“uneducated“20 years ago.

“Socioeconomically Disadvantaged” = It depends on the context but generally it could fall into the following categories:

Welfare recipient

Disaster victims (i.e. from Katrina of New Orleans)

Single parents with no or low income

Homeless,

Retired elderly etc…

Philip · Answer

An aside to Goodman [People say" life is a bowl of cherries". But why do I always get the sour ones?] It's better than always getting the pits.

Philip · Answer

Feebs11It will depend on context, but generally I would read this as referring to social disadvantage.

Without context, I would agree with Feebs.

MrPedantic · Answer

I think I would default to "social" too.

(There's nothing wrong with sour cherries, by the way...in the right context...)

MrP

Goodman · Answer

PhilipAn aside to Goodman [People say" life is a bowl of cherries". But why do I always get the sour ones?] It's better than always getting the pits.

Hi Phil,

Perhaps, I don't look at life with a totally pessimistic view.

"Sour" is better than "getting the pits", and I drink to that...

Taka · Answer

MrPedantic
I think I would default to "social" too.

Does it follow that the 'developmental' usage is not as widely used yet as the 'social/economical' one?

Anonymous · Answer

Hello,

we are making increasing use of euphemistic paraphrase. We turn our backs on expressions like the poor and embrace the economically disadvantaged. This is all very well; it is rather when the trend is taken to the extreme and the short people find themselves referred to as the vertically challenged, or the bald the follically challenged, that there is a risk of things getting out of control. Out with the old and in with the new may have its virtue, but so does (L)et sleeping dogs lie.

disadvantaged

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