Graduation Semester and Year
Fall 2024
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Sociology
Department
Sociology and Anthropology
First Advisor
Beth Anne Shelton
Second Advisor
Kelly Bergstrand
Third Advisor
Heather Jacobson
Abstract
Disabled women are often excluded from the reproductive rights movement based on the wrongful assumption that women’s disability makes them unfit for motherhood. The social proscription of parenting by disabled women creates reproduction rights issues as it blocks pathways to parenthood while simultaneously ignoring the ever present influence mothering ideology (i.e., the motherhood mandate) has on the gender identity of these women. Research on disabled motherhood is sparse; thus, this study seeks to add to it by examining the intersection of disability, femininity, and motherhood through the lens of young childless disabled women. In-depth interviews were conducted with 14 disabled women who identify as having mobility or sensory impairments. Interviews focused on answering three research questions; (1) how do expectations of disabled bodies influence gender identity among disabled women? (2) how do women with physical and sensory disabilities deal with conflicting notions created by compulsory motherhood and ableism when it comes to prospective motherhood? (3) how can the social implications of disabled motherhood advance reproductive justice for women with disabilities? Findings show that disabled women build and accept notions of motherhood based on hegemonic feminine ideals, as they learn and internalize gender norms based on their mothers’ actions. Yet, even when women internalize gender ideals, they primarily base their decision about motherhood on physical abilities and probability of passing disability through genetics. The women in this study also note the importance of social networks in affecting their decision, as they see family and romantic partners as a must to successful motherhood. Finally, disabled women stress the importance of resources and education/advocacy to the advancement in reproductive justice for women with disabilities.
Keywords
Motherhood, Disability, Motherhood Mandate, Stigma, Body Image, Socialization, Ableism, Disabled Women
Disciplines
Gender and Sexuality | Sociology
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Leon Luna, Alicia, "“Criticize The Way You Fly”: Negotiations of Femininity and Motherhood Among Young Disabled Women" (2024). Sociology & Anthropology Theses. 93.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/sociologyanthropology_theses/93