disability, gender and the trajectories of power

This book explores the gendered experience of disability. It investigates how women with disabilities fare in society focusing on the experiences of women and their interactions with family, society and medical and legal institutions.

Women with disabilities face unprecedented levels of violence, oppression and marginalisation in their daily lives as well as a lack of visibility, proper care and opportunities for socio-economic development. This book examines the reasons and consequences of the stigmatisation of disabilities and neurodivergence, denial of proper care, and various forms of exclusion and violence women with disabilities face both within and outside of their homes. It brings together the perspectives of academicians and activists that try and understand the various challenges faced by women with disabilities and highlights the fight for their right to autonomy, respect, equality, and justice.

Filling the gap in the existing feminist research, this revised edition seeks to influence the way in which society treats women with disabilities and will be of interest to scholars and researchers in the field of women’s rights, disability rights, rehabilitation, social policy, and the body.

Asha Hans is former Professor of Political Science, and Founder Director, School of Women’s Studies, Utkal University, India.