‘You’re disabled, why did you have sex in the first place?’ An intersectional analysis of experiences of disabled women with regard to their sexual and reproductive health and rights in Gujarat State, India

Abstract

ABSTRACT​Background: Globally, disabled people have significant unmet needs in relation to sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Disabled women in India face multiple discrimination: social exclusion, lack of autonomy with regard to their SRH, vulnerability to violence, and lack of access to SRH care. While they may face shared challenges, an intersectional perspective suggests that considering disabled women as a uniform and ‘vulnerable’ group is likely to mask multiple differences in their lived experiences. Objective: To explore commonality and heterogeneity in the experiences of disabled women in relation to their SRH needs and rights in Gujarat State, India. Methods: We conducted 22 in-depth qualitative interviews with women between the ages of 18 and 49 with any form of self-identified disability. Intersectionality was used as a lens for analysis and in sampling. Results: Findings explore the experiences of disabled women in a number of different spheres related to decision making and SRH service use. Conclusions: Recognising heterogeneity is critical to inform rights-based approaches to promote SRH and rights for all disabled women. This suggests a need to encourage strategic alliances between social movements for gender equity and SRH and disability rights, in which common interests and agendas can be pursued whilst recognising and respecting differences.

How do gender and disability influence the ability of the poor to benefit from pro-poor health financing policies in Kenya? An intersectional analysis

“…Our findings are similar to studies where women with disabilities reported that healthcare providers were highly insensitive [ 43 , 52 ], rude [ 24 , 41 , 43 , 44 ], seemed to lack awareness about their needs [ 24 , 43 , 45 ], and were surprised that women with disabilities were sexually active [ 45 , 52 ]. People with disabilities also reported being denied treatment [ 22 , 44 , 53 ]. However, one study done in rural Namibia showed that people with disabilities were impressed by health care workers skills and training [ 41 ].…”

Barriers facing persons with disability in accessing sexual and reproductive health services in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review

“…In the context of sexual and reproductive health, a number of recent studies note that PWDs have been ignored in many low-income settings [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Part of the reason for this neglect is the impression that PWDs are not sexually active and less likely to marry or have children than persons without disability [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Recent evidence however shows that rates of sexual desire and activity, need for family planning services, and childbearing among disabled women are comparable to those of non-disabled women [1,19,23].…”

Reproductive (In)Justice and Inequality in the Lives of Women with Intellectual Disabilities in Scotland

“…The findings presented here make visible the inherent nexus within which rights, policy, and intimate life exist (Wiseman 2019). Disabled women's fights for reproductive equality are ongoing, and systemic denial of these rights are commonplace globally (Dean et al 2017). Women's reproductive lives have become entangled in what Saunders (2020) refers to as the 'idealised reproductive citizen', where normative neoliberal processes demand the regulation of ' othered' women's reproductive decision-making as neoliberalism extends itself from market concerns to everyday life.…”