Vulnerability of women with disabilities

CHINHOYI –WOMEN with disabilities face a lot of challenges in their lives, making them
doubly vulnerable.
Doubly vulnerable, in that as women they are in most cases vulnerable and worse off
for those living with a disability.
It worsens because disability is already another form of condition which is discriminated
against. So, women with disabilities are very much at a double disadvantage. They are
disadvantaged by being female, and because of their disability.
In a recent survey conducted by Mashonaland West, acting chairperson of Hope in
Motion, who also works with the Organization of Persons with Disabilities, Pedzisai
Mangayi said besides being a woman they are seen as people who are not able to
contribute something meaningful to society. So, besides being a woman they are seen
as if they cannot do anything.
“The majority of the women with disabilities do not have access to quality education
because they are female. They do have disability, which worsens their disadvantage
when it comes to accessing services such as education.
“Another disadvantage they have, is on the Sexual Reproductive Health Education,
even when they are taught Sexual Reproduction Education, usually these women are
marginalised, maybe it’s because they are assumed as if society considers them as
useless people and cannot bear children and also some people think that if one has a
disability that person becomes a burden,” explained Mangayi.
The Hope in Motion official added that in the just introduced women’s quota system,
one will not find a woman with disabilities getting access to the quota system because
they are viewed as charity and they are seen as if they cannot do anything and this

affects them mostly. Those without the disabilities grab all the opportunities and
benefits.
“Then, there is also the issue of inclusivity, which is still a challenge in our society. We
need to have that inclusive mind, for example, we want to have a meeting, let’s look at
the composite diversity of the people that are there, whereas we might have
representatives of women in all ages, but do we have those with disabilities among
them,” he asked.
“There is need to ensure that we have an inclusive perception so that women with
disabilities won’t be double disadvantaged in terms of development, social role, and
social economic aspects.”