Gender, Disability and Political Behaviour

Abstract

We know that women are more likely to be disabled than men, moreover, women are more likely to experience mental ill-health than men. Given that 1 in 6 of the world’s population is disabled this means that there are a sizable number of disabled women. And yet, despite constituting a significant group we know little about how gender intersects with disability to shape political attitudes, participation, representation and social movement activism. This important panel addresses these themes, examining the intersections between gender and disability, as well as race and class to better understand the various ways in which they shape political behaviour and engagement. The panel will address important topics including: how do gender and disability affect voter evaluations of candidates? How do attitudes towards mental health shape influence the ways in which women politicians and candidates disclose or declare such conditions? What are the policy preferences of voters with disabilities especially when it comes to policies which in many instances can be the producers of disability and mental health conditions? And how do social movement actors address ableism and the political marginalisation of disabled women. As discussed via email with Rossella 2 of the papers may be presented online - we will take responsibility for setting this up!

Title	Details
Feminist Waves and Ableist Undercurrents: Narrating the Emotional Landscape of the Canadian Women’s Movement	View Paper Details
Gender, Mental Health and Political Representation	View Paper Details
How do Gender and Disability Intersect in Candidate Evaluations?	View Paper Details