Gender and Disability: A Neglected Agenda in Feminist Theory and Practice

Disability studies and feminist theory have largely developed as parallel fields, with limited and uneven points of intersection. While feminist scholarship has foregrounded gendered power relations, bodily autonomy, and sexuality, disability discourse has often remained gender-neutral, thereby marginalizing the specific experiences of women with disabilities. This paper argues that the intersection of gender and disability constitutes a critical yet neglected agenda within feminist theory and public policy. Drawing on feminist intersectionality and the social model of disability, the paper examines how women with disabilities in India experience compounded forms of oppression shaped by patriarchy, ableism, and structural exclusion. Through engagement with feminist disability scholarship, policy analysis, and documented instances of violence, the paper highlights systematic violations of sexual, reproductive, health, and citizenship rights. It contends that without the meaningful integration of disability into feminist frameworks, the project of gender justice remains fundamentally incomplete. The paper concludes that improving the lives of women with disabilities requires an approach based on equal rights, personal choice, and dignity. It calls for social change that removes barriers, challenges discrimination, and ensures that women with disabilities can participate fully in all areas of life

Gender; Disability; Feminist Theory

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