Rationale & Purpose: The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states
that eliminating discrimination against persons with disabilities in all matters relating to
marriage, family, parenthood, and relationships is crucial to ensuring meaningful
inclusion. The rights of people with disabilities are being re-emphasized with the aim of
further ensuring the meaningful inclusion of such individuals; social exclusion can
originate from stigma, which people with disabilities often face. In many cultures,
deeply ingrained stereotypes and prejudices prevail, and people with disabilities are a
particularly stigmatized group. People with disabilities are often viewed through a lens
of bias and discrimination. Consequently, the term “disability” is frequently considered
to have a negative connotation and often denotes societal vulnerability, the need for
assistance, difficulty living independently, and perceived inability to adapt to social
norms. Additionally, hegemonic masculinity fosters the suppression and exclusion of
nontraditional masculine behaviors and traits, constraining men’s freedom of expression
and personal development. From a disability studies perspective, a rigid gender norm
can further marginalize and oppress men with disabilities, meaning that such individuals
must field questions about their abilities and worth; doing so negatively affects their
physical and mental well-being and their social participation. Researchers have found
that successful involvement in sport or in marital and family life are sufficient to adjust
the negative labels of individuals with disabilities and enhance their self-identity. Sport
and marriage have become two of the pathways through which true social inclusion is
promoted for individuals with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to explore the
process of label adjustment and construction for male individuals with disabilities in
relation to sports involvement and marital experiences. Methods: To gain an in-depth
understanding of label adjustment and meaningful inclusion, this study adopted a
grounded theory approach and collected data from multiple sources to explore the
growth experiences and family situations of two fathers with sensory disabilities. In-
depth interviews were conducted with the two participants, one had visual disabilities,
and the other had hearing disabilities, and in the analysis of their narratives, the relevant
literature was consulted to ensure comprehensiveness. Both participants were married
and had two children, who lived with them in their households. The study was conducted
in two phases. The first phase involved the collection, analysis, and organization of data.
First, public multimedia data were collected. The participants had high public visibility,
and this study collected and analyzed data from publicly available Facebook posts,
interviews from seven broadcast episodes in a radio program, and 11 YouTube videos
posted in the preceding 3 years. Second, participant observation data were collected. The
participants were observed during their voluntary involvement in competitive events,
such as Ironman triathlons and swimming competitions; in total, the participants
participated in 13 events, each spanning approximately 3 days. Approximately 660 hours
of observation data were accumulated. Additionally, five public speeches and six training
sessions were observed in person, yielding approximately 40 hours of additional
observation data on the participants and their spouses. The total observation time was
approximately 700 hours. Third, totaling approximately 8,000 words research notes
which were done by the research team initiated a 10-month period of observation and
reflection after obtaining ethical approval. In the second phase, we conducted in-depth
interviews. The process of the in-depth interviews was as follows. Each father and their
spouse were interviewed three times; a semi-structured interview outline was employed
as a reference and adjusted in accordance with the context. During the COVID-19
pandemic, online interviews were conducted. Each interview lasted approximately 1.5
hours. In total, the interview time for all sessions amounted to approximately 10 hours,
and the transcribed text totaled approximately 40,000 words. Given the interconnected
nature of marriage, family life, and the social environment, this study focused on the
growth context and family life of the two participants as a core foundation and then
extended the exploration of their social integration and label adaptation through the
interviews. Results: The fathers understood the obstacles they faced, promoted their
self-identity, and actively planned their lives by using positive labels, such as sports
participation despite with barriers and environmental challenges. This study initially
identified three primary experiences through which the participants were able to
transcend their disability labels: (1) despite a superficial inclusion school environment,
sports participation leading to a transformation of self-identity and self-realization; (2)
initiating genuine inclusion opportunities with a sportsmanship spirit—progressing
toward marriage and public service; and (3) cultivating advantageous abilities within the
context of marriage on the basis of different disability attributes. According to the
results, a model entitled the “Theory of the Superficial Inclusion Sandbar” was
constructed. Four core categories—The River toward Inclusion (pathway), the Wind of
Promoting Inclusion (catalyst), the Superficial Inclusion Lagoon (threats and regulation),
and the Superficial Inclusion Sandbar (barriers)—were organized to elucidate the
experiences of the participants throughout their life journey. We found that the
participants experienced the following processes within the context of this Superficial
Inclusion Sandbar theory: (1) they knew and understood that the Superficial Inclusion
Sandbar had both advantages and disadvantages; (2) they navigated the societal
integration gateway through their participation in sports; and (3) they ultimately reached
the same state of genuine inclusion despite the fact that their paths toward the ocean of
genuine inclusion began differently. Conclusions & Implications: (1) positive labels
derived from sports contribute to the true inclusion of individuals with disabilities; (2)
such individuals are aware of the advantages and disadvantages of the Superficial
Inclusion Sandbar; and (3) individuals with disabilities can own the portrayal of true
inclusion in the context of marriage and family within the ocean of inclusion. This study
has several limitations, as follows: (1) the participants had similar characteristics
(gender, age, disability, and time of disability onset); (2) the issue of “boundary work”
for male individuals with disabilities who are perceived as “failures” by external
standards was not addressed; and (3) the data sources were limited. Beginning from the
River Toward Social Inclusion, the adjustment of self-identity regarding disabilities
through positive labels, such as sports participation, should be based on a values and
recognition system centered on individuals with disabilities rather than based on
mainstream societal values. This study—the research domains of which were the
workplace, sports, marriage, and family—found that career advancement, outstanding
performance in sports, maintaining healthy relationships in the marriage and family, and
successful parenting experiences can all establish a genuine sense of accomplishment for
men with disabilities and construct their self-efficacy, eliminating obstacles that resemble
Superficial Inclusion Sandbar—such as low societal expectations, low societal approval,
limited understanding of human rights implications, and being tolerated and
overlooked—and strengthening the benefits of positive labels obtained through sports
participation. This study recommends the extension of research into nonmainstream
family structures, strengthening of positive labels and factors contributing to true
inclusion, establishment of models, and encouragement of the coexistence of different
family patterns in society, with the aim of courageously creating diverse values.