Abstract Book of the 4th World Conference on Gender Equality
Year: 2026
[PDF]
Justice at the margins of society: the lived experience of women with disabilities
Yvette Basson
ABSTRACT:
Women with disabilities share a universal experience of exclusion around the world. Even the most forward-thinking social justice-oriented countries struggle to implement true equality for women with disabilities. The intersection of gender and disability creates a duality of barriers to full and equal participation in society, and this marginalization is a continued experience. Despite the international law guarantees of equality, inclusion and equal treatment, women with disabilities are less likely to be employed, less likely to experience political participation and more likely to experience gender-based violence than their peers. This paper will outline the challenges experienced by women with disabilities and explore solutions to overcoming the barriers to full and equal participation in society created by the intersection of gender and disability. International law obligations as well as select case studies will be used to illustrate the salient points.
Keywords: Justice, Equality, Disability, Gender, Participation