By Angelina Ong
This international women’s day, let’s not forget about women with disabilities. It’s nearly been a week since IWD, a global celebration of women and of the innumerable ways in which they shape our world. However, the commemoration of women in mainstream media often fails to take the depth and diversity of women’s experiences into account and often leaves women with disabilities out of the conversation. Women with disabilities face a unique struggle as they navigate an identity that places them within two historically marginalised communities. Ableism further exacerbates the struggles these women face by intensifying the discrimination they have to endure on a daily basis. This can manifest itself in the form of being subjected to impolite stares, reduced employment opportunities, higher rates of violence and abuse, and challenges in receiving medical attention.
As Louise Cord eloquently points out in her blog for the World Bank, “meaningful participation of women with disabilities is crucial to overcoming their exclusion”. I’d like to think that “their'' refers to women as a whole — and that this is a nod to how women cannot be said to have truly achieved equality unless all women have been included in the process.
It’s crucial that beyond just acknowledging women with disabilities, we also celebrate their resilience, accomplishments, and potential. Many renowned women have actually had disabilities — yet contrary to what societal misconceptions would have us believe, these in no way stopped them from having a great impact on the world. Take, for example, Frida Kahlo: this Mexican artist and cultural icon of worldwide acclaim was born with spina bifida (which affected her spinal and leg development), developed polio as a child, and later had a severe bus accident which left her with an array of serious injuries. Her disability didn’t hinder her artistic career — rather, it had a profound influence on her art and provided her a lens through which she could communicate her unique, multi-dimensional story. Her paintings served as a form of self-expression and her dedication to her craft is a true testament to her willpower and emotional strength. She even had a custom-made easel that allowed her to paint while sitting or lying down! The portrayal of disability in her artworks challenged traditional notions of beauty and was a means by which she could embrace and reveal her scars and physical differences. She not only depicted her “imperfections”, but a defining characteristic of her works was also the stoic expression and upright posture she was always seen with — perhaps showing her strength of spirit and indomitable resilience in the face of adversity.
Kahlo was boldly, unapologetically herself, and decades after her death, her art still sparks conversations and destigmatises discussions surrounding disability. Even today, her work resonates strongly with other women who may be queer, disabled, or people of colour who find themselves being underrepresented in the media. Being able to see oneself reflected in a famous artist’s artwork can be incredibly validating and empowering. While this deep emotional connection to an artist’s work is certainly heartwarming, it raises the question of why women with disabilities still struggle to find themselves reflected in, say, the mass media. Why is it that 70 years after Kahlo’s death, women with disabilities still lack visibility? Why has society failed to acknowledge their existence beyond the occasional (often patronising) news report and the Paralympics — the only semblance of a mainstream telecast that those with disabilities have?
On that note, I urge you to actively seek out and engage with media that features accurate representations of people with disabilities — be this through watching films and TV series, listening to podcasts, or even reading books. Authentic depictions can go a long way towards breaking down stereotypes and challenging any misconceptions you may have (consciously or not) surrounding disability. You can gain a better understanding of the perspectives and lived experiences that individuals with disabilities have, which can go towards fostering empathy and creating a more inclusive, just society for all.
This quote by Frida Kahlo captures the essence of why diversity and inclusion in the media is especially vital for individuals living with disabilities: “I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me, too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it’s true I'm here, and I’m just as strange as you.". Let this be our reminder to make a conscious effort to include women with disabilities in narratives about women.
Feminism isn’t truly feminism unless it’s intersectional.
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