Toda continues her fieldwork in central Africa farming and hunter-gatherer societies.11High-level implementation of technology does not necessarily guarantee a so-ciety in which “all people live in comfort.” Ways to achieve such an ideal society, however, may be found in unexpected places. We spoke with Faculty of Global Studies Associate Professor Mikako Toda, an ecological anthropologist whose research concerns the lives of people with disabilities in different contexts.In 2015, a group of British anthropologists and archaeologists published a study suggesting that early humans did not margin-alize people with disabilities. In fact, the scholars argued that the presence of people with disabilities contributed to the evolution and development of society by encouraging care-giving behav-ior and fostering a sense cooperation and community. This the-ory challenges preconceptions about the position of people with disabilities and their care and is supported by more than ancient human bones alone.“I hope to contribute to advancing the ‘theory of care’ by draw-ing from studies on hunter-gatherers to develop research on the people with disabilities,” says Associate Professor Mikako Toda. Part of Toda’s research involves her accompanying and survey-ing groups of rainforest nomadic hunter-gatherers. It is common to find people with disabilities, most usually caused by polio, in such groups. No public care systems, however, exist in the region.“The practice of equally sharing food among the entire commu-nity, regardless of individual contributions or hierarchical distinc-tions, ensures the livelihood of people with disabilities. The group *Neanderthal skeletal remains found in the Shanidar Caves in northern Iraq are believed to have belonged to a man who lived for more than 50 years with severe visual, hearing, and limb disabilities by receiving extensive care from those around him.members with disabilities receive equal portions of food even if they are unable to participate in the hunting or gathering of the day,” she says. “The people with disabilities do their share by look-ing after the camp and providing child care. This role is similar to that of elderly members.”“Perhaps social inclusion of persons with physical disabilities may result from such sharing and co-parenting practices,” Toda says. Agrarian society in this region, however, is strictly patriarchal. A son, even if disabled, who inherits his father’s farmland can man-age the land and make a living by engaging family members or workers to do the difficult farm work. However, second or younger sons with disabilities do not inherit farmland and have difficulty making a living. They are forced to leave the villages to find their way in towns, or they sometimes resort to begging. In the towns as well, the people with disabilities are not treated negatively. “In Disability studies, the term ‘disability’ collectively refers to anything that prevents an individual from being able to perform an action. The field does not attribute physical or mental im-pairment, or associated medical treatments, as a problem in it-self. Focus is rather on changes to the social environment,” Toda says. “Based on my observations of individuals with disabilities in Africa, I sense that such ‘considerations’ of impairment may also produce ‘disabilities.’”Treatment of African RainforestPeople with Disabilities
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