Disability and Intersectionality: Patterns of Ableism in the Women’s Movement

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Evans, Elizabeth. 2019. Disability and Intersectionality: Patterns of Ableism in the Women’s Movement. In: Elizabeth Evans and Eléonore Lépinard, eds. Intersectionality in Feminist and Queer Movements: Confronting Privileges. Abingdon: Routledge. ISBN 9780367257859 [Book Section]

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Abstract or Description

Intersectional analysis, amongst both scholars and social movement activists, has historically focussed on gender, race and class, this has meant that other axes of oppression, such as disability, have remained relatively marginalised (Erevelles 2011). This chapter explores the extent to which disabled women and disability-related issues and interests are included within the UK women’s movement. The empirical research draws upon analysis of two large women’s civil organizations, and a women’s disability collective. The study finds that although the wider women’s movement is making steps towards including disabled women and addressing disability-related issues, including via calls for a pedagogy of intersectionality, disabled women themselves do not feel included; indeed, they perceive the wider movement to be ableist and infused with able-bodied and able-minded privilege. The chapter argues that a politics that challenges ableism is required in order to address the marginalisation of disabled women.

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