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[womenanddisability]

The “Women with disabilities stigma inventory” (WDSI) was developed as part of the project “Addressing stigma and discrimination experienced by women with disabilities” (ASDWD) project, which was jointly led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Women, with funding from the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN PRPD).

The ASDWD project focused on the intersection of disability and gender-based stigma and discrimination. A key objective was to create a survey tool to assess the experiences of women and girls with disabilities regarding stigma, discrimination, and gender-based violence. To this end, alongside developing the WDSI using a participatory approach, a methodological note and ethical guidelines were also produced to ensure a human rights–based approach and minimize harm.

[womenanddisability]

ID: "Meenakshi Gupta, who is blind, works as a "medical tactile examiner" to identify breast tumors. The mannequin is used in the training program for would-be examiners. The strips enable the examiners to identify and carefully examine each zone of the breast."

[womenanddisability]

“It’s better to die”: women with disabilities in a male-dominated society in Bangladesh

Applying qualitative methods and evidence from the field, this paper explores the situation of women with disabilities within Bangladesh’s overall sociocultural, political, and economic contexts. The research found that participating women with disabilities were living in poverty and were disenfranchised. They reported being treated with disregard, and at times with contempt, both within their families and the wider society. In Bangladesh, disability is often regarded as a divine curse. In a patriarchal society where women are often seen as a liability, women with disabilities are particularly resented, and are often abandoned by their family members or are victims of domestic violence and abuse. In a society where sensitivity to the needs of people with disability is yet to take root, provisions for accessing basic services, such as education, are limited or non-existent for women with disabilities. Direct and representational participation of women with disabilities in the policy process is rare and changes relevant to their needs and empowerment are few. This research indicates that the situation of women with disabilities in Bangladesh is different from that of men with disabilities. More focused and gender-sensitive interventions are required at multiple levels – social, cultural and institutional.

KEYWORDS: 

Women with disabilities

poverty

empowerment

domestic violence

socio-economic status

Bangladesh

[womenanddisability]

Uncovering Reproductive Injustice Toward Women With Disabilities: A Scoping Review

For centuries, the reproductive agency of women with disabilities have been challenged and often undermined by informal and formal support networks. Evidence illustrates that women with disabilities face disproportionately higher rates of reproductive violence compared to their nondisabled peers (i.e., long-term contraception or forced sterilization). However, little is known about the specific nature, type, and impact of reproductive violence on women with disabilities. This scoping review examined the literature related to the reproductive violence against women with disabilities. We used Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, and based on our inclusion criteria, 28 empirical articles were included. Most studies were published in the disciplines of health (i.e., nursing and medicine) within the North American context and used qualitative research designs. Main findings within the scoping review included themes related to imposed contraception, rationalization of sterilization, barriers to sexual and reproductive health services, and the discourses underpinning reproductive injustice toward women with disabilities. The findings of the study have implications for future disability community-based research, peer-led supports, practice guidelines for professionals, and intersectoral policy provision aiming at supporting the reproductive agency of women with disabilities.

Impact and Implications:

Reproductive violence toward women with disabilities has social, emotional, and psychosocial repercussions. Our scoping review identifies how women with disabilities have experienced reproductive violence and the gaps in knowledge that need to be further investigated to achieve reproductive justice. Our findings are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 5 (gender equality) and 10 (reducing inequality; see https://sdgs.un.org/goals).

[womenanddisability]

Sexual and Reproductive Health Among Adolescent Girls with Disabilities: A Vicious Circle of Womanhood

In this chapter, we examine several critical inclusion issues from a female adolescent’s perspective into womanhood. The major focus will be on a girl child with physical disabilities. Thus in most cases, persons with physical disabilities will be used interchangeably with persons with disabilities. Sanitary facilities in this chapter will mean toilets which include sanitary pad disposals and taps. Sanitary infrastructure facilities will mean toilet buildings and sanitary facilities in it or around it, for example, hand washing basins and taps. In this timely chapter, the discussion of psychological concerns, sexual exploitation and courtship issues and maternal health are explored. We will identify the needs of females with disabilities that must be considered in maximising their inclusivity as well as in rehabilitating the social and physical environment of every community especially on issues of sexual and reproductive health. Sexual and reproductive health is taught in schools and in some homes world over. Whilst this is so, research shows that teaching of sex and reproductive health in most African settings is directed towards able-bodied persons (Chigunwe, 2017). Persons with disabilities face challenges in accessing information as well as facilities such as sanitary infrastructures. In respect of this, menstruation and maternal health continues to cause trauma to girls and women with physical disabilities every month in most developing countries, Zimbabwe included. Whilst international policies and declarations on the inclusion of persons with disabilities at all levels in society have been put in place, people with disabilities continue to be discriminated against. Drawing from documentaries and research, the author in this chapter demonstrates the effect of lack of access to sanitary facilities among adolescent girls with physical disabilities and these challenges are explored till their womanhood. The first part of the chapter reveals challenges faced by adolescent girls with disabilities in schools during menstruation periods and the last part explores their plight of maternal health in their womanhood. Access to sanitary facilities is a pervasive human right concern globally. Challenges faced by adolescent girls with physical disabilities to access sanitary facilities are not only an affront to their dignity but also endangers their rights to the highest attainable standards of health as well as that of access to education. This chapter chronicles on how lack of access to sanitary facilities—especially toilets—has seen girls with physical disabilities absenting themselves from school during menstruation period and on how some girls subsequently drop out of school in Zimbabwe and other developing countries. The United Nations’ 2030 agenda for sustainable development that was adopted in September 2015, called for availability and sustainable management of sanitation and water for all (World Health Organisation, Primary School Physical Environment and Health. Information Series on School Health, Document 2. WHO Press, 2010). Target 6.2, for example, called for an end to open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls as well as those in vulnerable situations such as men with disabilities. Most countries have enshrined these international policies in their domestic policies and legislation (Chimedza & Peters, Comparative Education Review, 44:245–271, 2009). This implies that legally, just like anyone else, people with disabilities have the right to actively participate in their communities. The Constitution of Zimbabwe, amendment number 20 of 2013, for instance, emphasises on the need to include people with disabilities at all levels of socio-economic development. This chapter however reveals on adolescent girls’ continuous struggle till womanhood in realising their right to access to sanitation and maternal health in spite of the international policies of inclusion to which most African countries are signatory.

[womenanddisability]

Moving out to live independently? experiences from young women with intellectual disabilities in Norway

This article explores the process of four women in Norway moving into their own apartment, emphasizing how they experienced the process in relation to self-determination and living independently. Persons with intellectual disabilities have been deprived of equality and human rights compared to non-disabled persons. They have been equated with a special form of vulnerability perceiving them not to have status as autonomous or capacity to lead self-determined lives. Based on participatory research applying a dialogue conference-inspired method, this article challenges how services are built based on municipal structures, rather than around the persons receiving the services.

KEYWORDS: 

Relational autonomy

vulnerability

transition

self-determination

dialogue conference

[womenanddisability]

Analysis of Discrimination and Denial of the Rights of Women with Disabilities with the Help of the Nvivo Software

Discrimination and denial of the rights of women with disabilities continues to be a reality. Women suffer situations of double discrimination, because they are women and because they have a disability. Women are disadvantaged in educational, employment, social, legal and economic terms. The prevalence of disability in Castilla y León (an Autonomous Community of Spain) is 6.86%, 48.2% are women and half of the people with disabilities are 65 years old or older. The objectives of the study were to know the real situation of women with disabilities in this region, to elaborate their profile from their own perception, and to propose actions that may improve their quality of life. Under a multi-method approach of an exploratory and descriptive nature, the authors elaborated a survey to which 526 women responded, almost all of them were aged 35 to 64, most of them with intellectual disabilities. NVivo software was used for qualitative data analysis. Results: The answers indicate the importance that these women give to the availability of support, need to carry out actions that may improve their quality of life, mainly in self-determination, social relations and emotional well-being, and the need to sensitize the community. Conclusions: In rural and urban settings, self-determination is the most important concern, followed by inclusion and emotional well-being. They demand greater availability of personal assistants, in number and hours, regulated by the administration (59.4% are aware this figure). They do not show a denial of access to maternity (40.7% have children). The study highlights the importance of planning social awareness programs, training women with disabilities and guaranteeing their basic rights.

[womenanddisability]

“I heal from it, I learn from it, and I go forward:” Women’s meaning-making of serious mental illness.

Previous studies have highlighted the centrality of the meaning-making process for people with serious mental illness (SMI) in their recovery process and potential gender differences. However, research is lacking to fully characterize how women with SMI construct meaning of their mental health challenges. Data analysis of a qualitative study of 20 women with SMI was conducted to address this gap in the literature. The present study involved content analysis of qualitative interviews of 20 women with SMI to identify themes pertaining to the meaning-making of this group. Data analysis led to the development of the following themes pertaining to meaning-making of women with SMI: persecuted personhood, protected personhood, defiant recovery, self-safeguarding, and creative transformation. Implications for humanistic practice and future research are presented. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Impact Statement

Qualitative interviews were conducted with women with serious mental illness (SMI) in the present study, a group with high mental and medical health risks requiring further attention in the literature. Data analysis led to the identification of several themes pertaining to the meaning-making process of women with SMI, demonstrating the importance of this process to internalization of stigma and development of resilience and coping that can enhance mental health outcomes for this group that can be targeted by future researchers and public health officials to enhance the wellness and recovery of this group.

[womenanddisability]

Autistic women’s views and experiences of infant feeding: A systematic review of qualitative evidence

Low breastfeeding rates are driven by multiple bio-psycho-social factors. Experience of breastfeeding is known to differ by maternal demographic factors (age, education and ethnicity) but there is less recognition of factors such as neurodivergence. This review, prospectively registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42021271465), systematically identified qualitative research, commentaries and personal accounts related to Autistic mothers and infant feeding. Database searching identified 1225 records, with thematic synthesis undertaken on 22 (eight peer-reviewed studies and 14 grey literature) pieces. Our analysis identified that maternity and infant feeding services were built on a lack of understanding of Autistic needs, and were often inaccessible at a time when Autistic mothers already felt a loss of control and lack of social support. Specifically relating to breastfeeding, knowledge and determination were often high, and a minority of mothers reported positive breastfeeding experiences. However, sensory challenges, pain and interoceptive differences (exacerbated by a lack of support) made breastfeeding impossible for some. Infant formula was viewed as second-best to breastmilk, but a minority of mothers found the ritual of preparing bottles of formula positive. There is an urgent need for maternity and infant feeding services to accommodate the needs of Autistic mothers, including service design and staff training.

Lay abstract

What is already known about the topic?

Mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their babies due to known health benefits for both babies and mothers. However, although breastfeeding is ‘natural’, that does not make it easy and many women experience challenges. Autistic women may face additional barriers to breastfeeding when compared to neurotypical women.

What this paper adds?

We reviewed all existing evidence on Autistic mothers’ infant feeding experiences (22 pieces) and found that although many Autistic women wanted to breastfeed, breastfeeding was difficult for Autistic mothers for three key reasons. First, maternity and infant feeding services were inaccessible and unsupportive to Autistic mothers, meaning they did not receive help when needed. Second, becoming a mother was challenging because of exhaustion, loss of control over routines and a lack of social support. Third, when breastfeeding Autistic mothers experienced sensory challenges, such as ‘being touched out’, and pain, which could feel unbearable. Despite these difficulties, many Autistic mothers had done a lot of reading about breastfeeding and were determined to breastfeed their babies; some mothers found breastfeeding positive. Infant formula was often viewed as second-best compared to breastmilk, but some mothers found the ritual of preparing bottles of formula to be calming.

Implications for practice, research or policy

The findings of this work show that Autistic mothers urgently need better support from health professionals to help meet their breastfeeding goals, including how to remove or reduce the extra barriers being Autistic brings to breastfeeding.

[womenanddisability]

Problematising older motherhood in Canada: ageism, ableism, and the risky maternal subject

This article examines how older motherhood and older mothers are problematised and represented in key Canadian policy texts on ‘delayed childbearing’ and ‘advanced maternal age’. Drawing on critical disability studies and feminist scholarship on motherhood, we identify three kinds of representations of older mothers in these texts: as risk-producing subjects, as unnatural mothers, and as irresponsible reproductive citizens. We argue that dominant discourses of older motherhood are structured by both ageism and ableism, which undergird policy documents. These discourses frame older women as disabled by the ‘burden’ of late parenthood and cast them as risky subjects who might give birth to ‘abnormal’ offspring. Within this discursive terrain, older women are not only othered: they are held responsible for their infertility and for their reduced propensity to reproduce ‘healthy,’ non-disabled offspring.

Keywords: 

Risk

older motherhood

ableism

biopolitics

intensive motherhood ideology

ageism

[womenanddisability]

‘Sanitise your hands with rainbows!’ Encouraging self-representation in times of crisis: inclusive reflections on Covid-19, together with women with learning disabilities from East London

This article re-contextualises applied drama practice in the wake of Covid-19, with a particular focus on cognitive diversity. From an inclusive perspective, it asks how encouraging self-expression helps to diversify the still often one-dimensional perception of people with learning disabilities in media reports. It thereby continues an on-going argument around empowered representation within disability drama and culture. The article traces arts practice that engaged a group of women with learning disabilities in reflections about the lockdown 2020. The practice section of the article documents three concrete examples from a workshop series with the members of Powerhouse, a group of women with learning disabilities from the East of London.

KEYWORDS: 

Inclusive arts

learning disability

applied drama research

coronavirus

lockdown

[womenanddisability]

Cripping Girlhood

Cripping Girlhood offers a new theorization of disabled girlhood, tracing how and why representations of disabled girls emerge with frequency in twenty-first century U.S. media culture. It uncovers how the exceptional figure of the disabled girl most often appears as a resource to work through post-Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) anxieties about the family, healthcare, labor, citizenship, and the precarity of the bodymind. In paying critical attention to disabled girlhood, the book uses feminist disability studies to rupture the unwitting assumption in girls' studies that girlhood is necessarily non-disabled. 

By closely examining the ways that disabled girls represent themselves, Anastasia Todd goes beyond a critique of the figure of the privileged, disabled girl subject in the national imagination to explore how disabled girls circulate their own capacious re-envisioning of what it means to be a disabled girl. In analyzing a range of cultural sites, including YouTube, TikTok, documentaries, and GoFundMe campaigns, Todd shows how disabled girls actively upend what we think we know about them and their experience, recasting the meanings ascribed to their bodyminds in their own terms.  By analyzing disabled girls' self-representational practices and cultural productions, Todd shows how disabled girls deftly theorize their experiences of ableism, sexism, racism, and ageism, and cultivate communities online, creating archives of disability knowledge and politicizing other disabled people in the process. 

[womenanddisability]

A litany for survival in pandemic times – DisCrit mothering and radical love

This is a critical autoethnography informed by Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Dis/ability Critical Race Studies (DisCrit) that explores the notion of DisCrit mothering in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. I use my experiences as a disabled Latina motherscholar and mindfulness practitioner to reflect on how I mother my two young children and foster radical love in educational spaces. I present the pandemic context and how it relates to compassion fatigue and a litany for survival but also offer the pandemic as an opportunity for personal and collective transformation. I use the narrative of sacrificio, a teacher’s note from school, and a “giftedness” program to discuss how I try to resist internal and external pressures to conform to ableist mindsets and practices by cultivating radical love, solidarity, and critical questioning in myself and in my children. I end this work with hope and love for the next generation of DisCrit, social justice warriors.

Keywords: 

DisCrit

mothering

mother

race

disability

pandemic

[womenanddisability]

Living with Disability: Experiences of Women with Disabilities from Odisha

Women with disabilities is one of the most marginalized populations in society. On investigation of their life experiences, this study’s findings suggest that gender and disability play an important role in shaping their lives. Traditionally, negative societal attitudes towards disability create impediments to access to education and work, among other spheres of life. Stigmatization faced by women with disabilities can be internalized, and result in their presumed undesirability and incapability to take on the traditional gender roles as caregivers. Much of the negative internalization is due to the influence of socialization within and outside of their families, which has heavily influenced their decisions in relationships, in particular. Yet women with disabilities also find support in family structures. Interdependence in family and community settings increases security and stability in their lives and expands their social networks, which are integral to the overall wellbeing of an individual. Thus, positive acceptance of disability rather than mere tolerance or discrimination by their families and the community, along with familial and community support, will help in increased inclusion and better growth of women with disabilities.

[womenanddisability]

Cripping Girlhood

Cripping Girlhood offers a new theorization of disabled girlhood, tracing how and why representations of disabled girls emerge with frequency in twenty-first century U.S. media culture. It uncovers how the exceptional figure of the disabled girl most often appears as a resource to work through post-Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) anxieties about the family, healthcare, labor, citizenship, and the precarity of the bodymind. In paying critical attention to disabled girlhood, the book uses feminist disability studies to rupture the unwitting assumption in girls’ studies that girlhood is necessarily non-disabled. 

By closely examining the ways that disabled girls represent themselves, Anastasia Todd goes beyond a critique of the figure of the privileged, disabled girl subject in the national imagination to explore how disabled girls circulate their own capacious re-envisioning of what it means to be a disabled girl. In analyzing a range of cultural sites, including YouTube, TikTok, documentaries, and GoFundMe campaigns, Todd shows how disabled girls actively upend what we think we know about them and their experience, recasting the meanings ascribed to their bodyminds in their own terms.  By analyzing disabled girls’ self-representational practices and cultural productions, Todd shows how disabled girls deftly theorize their experiences of ableism, sexism, racism, and ageism, and cultivate communities online, creating archives of disability knowledge and politicizing other disabled people in the process. 

[womenanddisability]

Women with Disabilities in Nursing Panel

Date & Time: May 8, 2024 03:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Description: The DocsWithDisabilities team, in partnership with multiple disability organizations, brings you a Women with Disabilities in Medicine (WWDIM) panel. These practicing nurses will share their insight into navigating the training to work pathway, thriving as a doctor with disability, and balancing the multiple demands that often disproportionately impact women. All are invited. Captioning and ASL are available.