O lugar da mulher é onde ela quiser: o engajamento político de mulheres com deficiência.

Abstract

Taking on new directions from the 1970s onwards, political mobilization in defense of the rights of people with disabilities led by these individuals significantly altered the theoretical and political perspective globally. Despite these advancements and the recognized importance of women activists with disabilities in this trajectory, at national and international levels, studies confirm that women with disabilities live at least at a double social disadvantage, for being a woman and for having disability. Higher unemployment rates, lower levels of education, high incidence of domestic violence and lower social participation reflect the oppression and discrimination that exist in the social interactions of these women. We posit that the intersection of social categories such as disability, gender, race and social class, on the life trajectories can shape the political engagement and experiences of activism of these women. This research had the general objective of understanding the motivations and experiences of women with disabilities related to their process of political engagement to guarantee the rights of people with disabilities. The specific objectives were to: (1) understand the women activists with disabilities’ life’s elements trajectory that they identify as motivators for the beginning and/or maintenance of their political engagement; (2) analyze the trajectory of activism by women with disabilities in defense of the rights of people with disabilities; and (3) understand the experience of women with disabilities regarding female action in activism in defense of the rights of people with disabilities, taking into perspective their perception of the mediation of gender relations in the dynamics of formal and informal spaces of activism and its implications for the organization and agenda of the social movement. Qualitative research was executed using data produced from semi-structured interviews carried out with twenty-four women activists with disabilities. The reports were recorded, transcribed in full and submitted to thematic content analysis. The interviewed women reported trajectories and experiences strongly marked by ableism and gender discrimination in all aspects of life and political activism investigated. In this spectrum, experiences with ableism were indicated as the greatest motivation for political engagement due to disability. The activists’ engagement process is directly related to the existence of an identity, critical and social understanding of disability constructed through the (re)elaboration of meanings. In their activism experiences, interviewed women highlighted the personal and collective benefits of occupying spaces for social participation as an act of resistance. It is necessary to carry out scientific investigations dedicated to investigating this topic, which is still little explored by the national academy.