There is a rich literature exploring gendered differences in political attitudes, behaviour, and policy preferences. At the same time, scholars have started examining the impact that disability has on public opinion and political engagement. Although there is an increasing awareness of the need to think intersectionally about how different groups of women experience and perceive politics, very little empirical research examines the intersection of gender and disability (the exception is Schur’s 2003 study of resources and political participation in the US). This research fills that gap. Drawing on insights from social psychology suggesting that disabled women are perceived outside of traditional feminine roles and stereotypes, we explore whether this is reflected in their actual political preferences, for example through lower concern about ‘women’s issues’ such as childcare. We also know that disabled women tend to experience additional barriers in candidate selection processes (Evans and Reher, 2023). Are these also present in other forms of participation? Drawing on data from the European Social Survey, this paper maps the views, perceptions, and political participation of disabled women across Europe, examining the extent to which this intersection produces significant differences on variables including political trust, participation, and attitudes, in ways that are more than just additive effects of gender and disability.
