Reading ‘Asexuality’ and ‘Rolelessness’ in the Select Life-Narratives of Indian Disabled Women
Keywords:
Disability; marginalization; rolelessness; asexual-objectification; autobiography; femininityAbstract
Disability is a contested concept, with shifting meaning in different communities. It has been marginalized throughout the history and it evolved through the traditional concept to social model-based approach. The mainstream politics of disability neglect the unique and specific issue pertaining to women with disability. Feminine attractiveness ideologies view disabled women as unattractive, unable to appeal partners, and unfit to fulfil traditional responsibilities of wife, mother, and carer of families.
Focusing on the concepts of 'rolelessness' and 'asexual objectification' this paper explores how Indian women with disability have been marginalized at multiple positions which denies their existence as an active member of society. The study includes three autobiographies written by Indian disabled women as One Little Finger by Malini Chib, No Looking Back by Shivani Gupta and The Other Senses by Preeti Monga.
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