Gendered Dis-abilities: A Probe into the Intersections of Menstruation, Disabilityand the Discourse of Discrimination

Abstract

Turning an inquisitive lens into the construction of meanings and associations characterising the dual experiences of menstruation and disability reveals the culture of stigma, shame and marginalisation that surrounds them. Grounded on the possible interdisciplinary link between the emerging academic fields of Critical Menstruation Studies and Disability Studies, this paper attempts to critique the ways in which the experiences of menstruators with disabilities are marginalised in our cultural milieu, especially in the Indian context. The study aims to bring to light how even the contemporary menstrual narratives of empowerment and de-stigmatisation are non-inclusive of menstruators with disabilities whose voices remain unheard. Along with the theoretical inferences drawn from Critical Menstruation Studies and Critical Disability Studies, the paper will also make use of the concept of Intersectionality as an analytical tool to address the questions guiding the study. The paper intends to delve into the varied vantage points of ‘the disabled-menstruator intersectionality’ to call attention to the absence of representations in the mainstream menstrual narrative and advocate for more inclusive conversations.