"Dirty looks": A critical phenomenology of motorized mobility scooter use. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Battalova, Alfiya; Hurd, Laura; Hobson, Sandra; Kirby, R. Lee; Emery, Richelle; Mortenson, W. Ben
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 297(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Wheeled mobility device -- Scooter -- Critical phenomenology -- Lifeworlds -- Visibility -- Invisibility; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114810
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: The use of motorized mobility scooters has become increasingly prevalent. Drawing on the critical-phenomenology and disability-studies literature, this study explored the embodied nature of scooter use among 20 new scooter users. The analysis revealed four themes: 1) Navigating the social environment and being (un)seen presented a paradox of how hypervisibility and invisibility can both exist; 2) Transitioning to scooter use revealed the affective component of becoming a scooter user despite the underlying desire to avoid unwanted attention; 3) Experiencing accessibility challenges en route and at destinations demonstrated that the inconsistency in accessibility along different routes unavoidably makes disability more visible; 4) Strategic and personalized use of devices for mobility illustrated how reliance on other mobility devices (e.g. canes and walkers) can be used as a strategy to circumvent the barriers and lessen the visibility of disability. The lifeworlds of "lived relation", "lived body", "lived space", and "lived things" encapsulated the multi-faceted experiences of new scooter users. The critical phenomenology of scooter use emphasized the need for creative strategies to address the physical and attitudinal barriers as well as scooter design-related concerns. Highlights: New scooter users' experiences are underexplored. Phenomenology of lifeworlds reveals complexity of their experiences. New scooter users face challenges adopting a scooter. Reliance on other mobility devices can be helpful but is not without challenges. Spatial and attitudinal barriers need to be addressed.