Able Fragility
Relaaaax! You can make your life easier too.
Instead of seeing the ableist label as an accusation (or slur…), we should view it as an invitation to rethink our assumptions about creativity and who gets to create.
As AI-assisted writing tools become more prevalent, conversations around authenticity, creativity, and technology have sparked debates about whether these tools undermine traditional writing processes. One of the most contentious aspects of these discussions involves the accusation of ableism when critics dismiss AI-assisted writing. People often react strongly, even defensively, to the term "ableist" in this context. But why do so many people seem to bug out when ableism is invoked in discussions about AI-assisted writing?
To explore this, we need to consider several factors: the cultural myths surrounding creativity, societal discomfort with disability and accommodation, and the power dynamics that make the term "ableist" so charged. By examining these issues, we can better understand why the ableist label provokes such strong reactions and why it’s often a valid critique of traditional views on writing and creativity.
1. Cultural Myths About Creativity and Effort
One of the key reasons people react so strongly to the ableist label in discussions of AI-assisted writing is that it challenges long-standing cultural myths about creativity. In much of Western culture, creativity is idealized as something that requires struggle, hardship, and individual effort. The trope of the “suffering artist” is deeply ingrained, promoting the belief that the best work comes from overcoming personal adversity.
AI-assisted writing disrupts this narrative by providing a tool that makes writing easier, particularly for those who face barriers to traditional writing processes. When critics of AI-assisted writing argue that dismissing these tools is ableist, they confront the notion that struggle is essential to creativity. For many, this feels like a direct challenge to their deeply held beliefs about what makes creative work valuable. They resist the label of ableism because it implies that their views are exclusionary and uphold a system that unfairly privileges certain abilities over others.
I’ll admit that I catch myself thinking ableist things all the time. I’m steeped in the same cultural narratives about creativity and effort, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that struggle is a prerequisite for value. But each time I reflect on it, I recognize that this mindset is exclusionary—it overlooks those who need tools like AI to communicate, create, and express themselves. And if we’re serious about including more voices, we have to question these ingrained beliefs, even when it makes us uncomfortable.
2. Discomfort with Disability and Accommodation
The term "ableism" forces people to confront their own discomfort with disability and accommodation. Ableism refers to the discrimination or prejudice against people with disabilities, and it highlights the ways in which society is structured around able-bodied and neurotypical norms. When advocates of AI-assisted writing point out that dismissing these tools is ableist, they are emphasizing how traditional writing processes are built on assumptions about what bodies and minds “should” be able to do.
For some, this critique is deeply uncomfortable. It forces them to acknowledge that the ways we’ve historically valued writing, creativity, and expression are often exclusionary. Many people don’t want to admit that they benefit from a system that is inherently biased against those with disabilities. They react strongly to the ableist label because it pushes them to confront their own internalized ableism and discomfort with accommodating differences.
I know this discomfort well—I’ve felt it myself. The moment I realize I’m thinking in ableist terms, it’s not easy to confront. I immediately start questioning my own sense of fairness and inclusivity, and the conflict between what I believe and what I catch myself thinking creates a tension that’s hard to shake. But this discomfort is necessary; it’s how we grow and recognize that our views might be upholding exclusionary norms without us even realizing it.
3. Fear of Losing Control Over Creative Norms
Another reason people bristle at the ableist label is that it threatens long-standing power structures that control who gets to define creativity and its value. Historically, creativity—especially in writing—has been gatekept by institutions that privilege certain forms of expression. Literary standards have been dominated by able-bodied, neurotypical individuals with access to education and time. AI-assisted writing tools disrupt these power dynamics by making creative expression more accessible to those who have been historically excluded from these spaces.
The ableist label in this context exposes the discomfort people feel about losing control over the norms that define creativity. When advocates for AI-assisted writing call out ableism, they are pushing for a redefinition of what constitutes “good” writing or valuable creativity. This challenge to the status quo provokes defensive reactions from those who are invested in maintaining control over cultural standards.
Here, the ‘ableist’ label becomes a threat to their ability to decide whose voices are heard and validated in the creative landscape.
4. Misunderstanding of What Ableism Is
A significant factor in the strong reaction to the ableist label is a misunderstanding of what ableism really entails. Many people associate ableism with overt discrimination against people with disabilities—something that “bad” people do intentionally. So when they’re told that their criticisms of AI-assisted writing are ableist, they may interpret this as an unfair accusation of malice or prejudice.
In reality, ableism is often subtle and systemic. It’s not just about personal bias; it’s about how societal structures and cultural norms exclude or marginalize people with disabilities. Dismissing AI-assisted writing as inauthentic or cheating without considering how these tools help people overcome barriers to communication is a form of ableism, even if it’s not intended.
The defensive reaction to the ableist label often stems from the discomfort of realizing that ableism is embedded in everyday norms and practices, even when those practices seem benign.
5. Protecting One’s Identity as “Not Ableist”
For many individuals, particularly those who see themselves as socially conscious or progressive, being labeled ableist is perceived as a threat to their identity. People who fight against sexism, racism, or homophobia may see themselves as advocates for equality, and being called ableist feels like an accusation that undermines their self-image as an ally.
This phenomenon is similar to what’s called "white fragility" in discussions of racism, where individuals become defensive when confronted with the idea that they may be complicit in structural inequality. In the case of AI-assisted writing, people may react strongly to the ableist label because it suggests that their worldview is exclusionary, despite their best intentions.
Rather than engaging with the critique and examining how their views on creativity might reinforce ableism, they often focus on defending their own moral righteousness.
6. Cognitive Dissonance and Resistance to Change
Finally, the defensive reactions to the ableist label often stem from cognitive dissonance. People who criticize AI-assisted writing may genuinely believe that their concerns are rooted in a desire to preserve artistic integrity, authenticity, or creativity. When confronted with the idea that their views are ableist, they experience a conflict between their self-perception as advocates of creativity and the reality that their views may be exclusionary.
Cognitive dissonance is uncomfortable, and people often resolve it by doubling down on their original beliefs rather than reconsidering them. This helps explain why some people become more hostile when the ableist label is invoked. Instead of examining their own assumptions about creativity, they reject the critique and insist that the label of ableism is inappropriate or exaggerated. This reaction allows them to avoid the discomfort of confronting how their views may perpetuate exclusion.
Power Dynamics and Control Over Creative Expression
At its core, the resistance to AI-assisted writing and the defensive reaction to being labeled ableist reflect an underlying tension about control over cultural standards. For centuries, creativity—especially writing—has been defined by those who have historically held power: able-bodied, neurotypical individuals with privileged access to education, resources, and cultural validation. This gatekeeping has shaped the very definition of what “good” writing or valuable creativity looks like, often excluding those who don’t fit into this narrow framework.
AI-assisted writing disrupts this power dynamic by providing a tool that allows people who have been historically excluded from these creative spaces—due to disabilities, neurodivergence, or other barriers—to participate more fully. By enabling more voices to be heard, AI challenges the existing norms that have long been controlled by those in power. When critics dismiss AI-assisted writing as inauthentic or inferior, they are, whether consciously or unconsciously, defending the gatekeeping structures that have traditionally upheld their position of authority over cultural standards.
The ableist label in this context is a direct challenge to these power dynamics. It calls out the exclusionary practices that have kept many individuals—especially those with disabilities—on the margins of creative expression. This is why the label provokes such a strong, defensive reaction: it exposes the ways in which traditional views on creativity have been used to reinforce existing power structures.
Confronting Able Fragility
The strong reactions to the ableist label in discussions of AI-assisted writing reflect what can be called "able fragility"—a defensive response to the idea that traditional views on creativity may be exclusionary to people with disabilities. People bristle at the term because it challenges deeply held beliefs about effort, authenticity, and creativity, while forcing them to confront their own discomfort with disability and accommodation.
But rather than rejecting the ableist label, we need to engage with it. The discomfort people feel is an opportunity for growth, reflection, and a re-examination of how we define creativity and who gets to participate in it. AI-assisted writing has the potential to help give a bigger voice to those who have been historically excluded from platforms that expect a certain communication style. If we want a more inclusive understanding of creativity, we must be willing to confront the ableism embedded in our cultural norms and embrace tools that make expression accessible to all.
Anyway, here are some actual reasons to be worried about AI:
