Correct!
On 9 March 2014 09:21, Lissy Verghese <[email protected]> wrote: > Great food for thought! > Should be shared on Facebook. > Thank you! > Lissy Verghese > > On 3/8/14, Sanchit Katiyar <[email protected]> wrote: > > good read, thought why not share! > > > > Unspeakable Inequalities: Understanding the cycle of structural > > violence: A case of women with disabilities > > > > December 5, 2013 > > > > by Anita Ghai > > > > As a child I dreamt being a doctor. I inherited this dream from my > > mother's aspiration. However this dream was problematic, as I had > > polio at the age of two. Thanks to my caring parents, I thought I > > was very lucky because we found a school in my locality. The > > experience in school was enjoyable. Gratefully, I also found a > > Rickshaw to drop me home from school as my father would drop me to > > school. > > The guy was helpful and protective. Life was going fine. However the > > usual guy fell ill and he sent his brother to pick me up from school. > > I observed that he was helpful; however, suddenly I felt that that he > > was trying to hold me powerfully, too powerfully! > > While I sat on the seat, I felt his hands along my body. Later on I > > felt his hands at places where they were not supposed to be at all. > > When I tried to push him away, he told me that I was ungrateful as he > > was helping. At first I could not tell my mother what happened. I was > > scared to death of going to school. I used several excuses such as > > illness to avoid going to school. After about a week, my mother became > > suspicious. It was only then that I was relieved of guilt. > > My parents took extra care after that and my mother started picking me > > up from school. However the fear of this man has stayed with me, all > > along. The fear was instrumental in creating a persona, which had > > nothing to do with intimacy and sexuality issues. > > Vulnerability of disabled women > > Violence and abuse of anyone regardless of gender, age, caste or any > > constituency is never permissible. Yet, there are many realities that > > defy articulation. I recall a feminist working on issues of sexuality > > in early 1980, was surprised that I was underscoring the issues of > > violence against women with disabilities. She was shocked as to why > > anyone would 'want to assault a disabled woman'. > > Over the years, I have understood that silence really is complicity -- > > because we are all affected, we are all related and we do not accept > > the violence that affects women with disabilities. The fact is that > > girls and women with disabilities are more vulnerable to exploitation > > and abuse. The fact is that they are considered as soft targets with > > the perpetrators assuming that they can get away easily. Since > > disabilities are multiple, many women are unable to comprehend or > > communicate about such acts of violence or assault they face in the > > family, neighborhood and society. > > Structural Violence > > On account of many submissions to Justice Verma Committee, it is clear > > that women and girls with disabilities in India are more vulnerable to > > violence; almost 80 per cent of women with disabilities are victims of > > violence and they are four times more likely to be victims. Disabled > > women are exposed to a higher incidence of violence compared to the > > population average. In 2013, the latest CEDAW meeting describes women > > with disabilities as disadvantaged, despite a very clear understanding > > of women with disabilities who face violence and abuse, which is > > invisible to the society. > > Though an understanding of direct violence is still somewhat > > recognizable, but structural violence is not understood by society. To > > me, structural violence can be understood in terms of absence of > > equitable life opportunities for the disabled -- with specific > > reference to voices of the disabled women. > > The stories reveal the many assumptions and inequities that contribute > > to their marginalization. Structural violence, according to Johan > > Galtung, exists when some groups, classes, genders, nationalities, etc > > are assumed to have, and in fact do have, more access to goods, > > resources, and opportunities. This unequal advantage is built into the > > very social, political and economic systems that govern societies, > > states and the world. > > Women with disabilities are marginalised in a patriarchal society in > > India. This social and cultural apartheid is sustained by the > > existence of a built environment, which lacks amenities for the > > disabled and solely caters to the needs of the more complete and > > able-bodied 'Other'. This social disregard coupled with experiences of > > social, economic and political subjugation deny the disabled a voice, > > a space, and even power, to disrupt these deeply entrenched normative > > ideals that deprive them of their social presence and any semblance of > > identity. > > To survive as a disabled person in such a blinkered social environment > > has meant coming to terms with unequal power relationships. This is > > reflected most clearly by socio-economic status, health issues, > > gender, has been confirmed by a range of studies that show that > > disabled adults are likely to have low earnings or be unemployed. > > Critical is the fact that the disabled woman faces a hostile > > environment designed for "able-bodied' society, enhancing the subtle > > violence. > > Lack of access to communication, be it in the form of availability of > > Braille materials, augmentative measures or sign language training, > > heightens the oppression experienced by disabled women specifically in > > reporting abusive experiences. > > To my mind, disability does imply broken persons, as an inadequate > > society is neatly tuned to the workings of normative structure serving > > political and economic ends. Such disregard results in an ignoring of > > pertinent issues with regard to disability from the point of view of > > both active social struggle as well as contemporary academic > > discourse. Unfortunately such incipient stigmatisation against those > > who carry the insidious label of 'disability' with them results in an > > exclusion that creates both a sense of despair and distress, often > > leading to a suppression and non- recognition of the 'lack' that marks > > them initially as different. > > Thus violence is not a direct act of any decision or action made by a > > particular person but a result of an unequal distribution of resource > > creating a lack of agency that can fight the inhumane society. > > Structural violence has the effect of denying disabled people > > significant rights such as economic opportunity, social and political > > equality, a sense of satisfaction and self-esteem. When disabled > > people experience starvation, have serious issues of sanitation and > > basic requirements such as toilets, and are locked in their houses, > > violence is taking place. Similarly, when disabled women suffer for > > reproductive rights and have diseases that could be prevented, when > > they are denied a decent education, housing, an opportunity to play, > > to grow, to work, to raise a family, to express themselves > > spontaneously, a kind of violence is occurring -- even if bullets or > > landmines are not used! Violence happens when optimum potential > > enhancement of a disabled woman is denied. > > Institutional Violence > > I believe we need to understand "institutional violence" too. > > "Institutional violence" and structural violence are not synonymous as > > the former includes violence that is perpetrated by families, > > neighborhood, schools, health centers, universities, and recreational > > organisations, as opposed to individuals. > > In India, 59% of unmarried women have experienced violence from their > > natal family members, friends, and neighbours, and 54% of the > > ever-married women had faced violence from family members, natal > > family members and friends. Also, 78% of the women who faced violence > > had experienced severe mental distress as a result of violence. > > Another area of concern is the possibility of disabled women > > experiencing subtle abuse and being controlled, rather than being in > > control of caring relationships. Most of the women who have shared > > their experiences with me feared abuse and violence more from the > > extended family and acquaintances. In this sense, though the family is > > directly responsible, it does lead to a 'fear psychosis' as many of > > their accounts are treated as overactive imagination. > > As she recounted this to me, Neelima repressed her disgust. "I tried > > telling my mother about my uncle. She had such a look of disbelief as > > she said to me, 'Arre who tumhe kyon tang karega? Usko ladki ki kami > > hai? Tumne kabhi apne aap to shishe mein dekha hai?' (Why would he be > > interested you? Is he short of girls outside? Have you ever seen > > yourself in the mirror?)" > > Thus women with disabilities are especially vulnerable; being less > > able to defend themselves as the risk of assault and rape from > > acquaintances is generally greater than that from strangers. > > As an institution family tends to infantilize and patronize women with > > disabilities, and don't consider them seriously; their choices are not > > respected -- thus, denial is not respected as "denial". Women fear > > that they may not be seen as dependable -- thus reporting abuse may not > > be believed; they also face damaging social values of being 'inferior' > > or 'throwaway', which can lead offenders to believe that the abuse is > > permitted. Many fellow disabled women report instances of male family > > members fondling a female's breasts each time they touch them. Verbal > > abuses are also prevalent, such as "you are a burden to society" and > > "we are so unfortunate. We cannot even kill you". > > Violence by caregivers > > Further, the relationship between the caregiver and care recipients is > > problematic as the creation of dependency is linked to the 'burden' > > caused by the disabled person. One of the primary reasons for > > under-reporting is the fact that 99% of the perpetrators are family, > > friends and/or caretakers (such as residential staff like maids, > > drivers etc.) Perpetrators often use threats, such as deprivation of > > food, charger of the wheel chair, social activity or personal care in > > order to force the person with a disability to submit to the abuse. > > It's also important to note that though the women would like to report > > abuse, they often lack the resources or information to do so. > > I have noticed when women with disabilities have reached the hospital, > > they find venereal diseases or bruises all over their bodies, and yet > > the doctors, too, overlook the abuse. Even in hospitals, women often > > hear the staff hurling abuse such as "one who can't wipe her own shit > > has no right to be concerned about her hair, so let me chop off your > > damn hair". > > I feel that there is a close alliance between direct, structural and > > cultural violence, as subtle forms of violence include unfair intimate > > relationships, social exclusion, circumscribed autonomy and a higher > > tolerance for ill-treatment within segregated settings, affecting the > > daily experiences of disabled women. For instance many mothers request > > for hysterectomies. On inquiring, they say they want to control the > > menstrual hygiene; they also fear that sexual abuse might lead to > > pregnancy. The tragic part is that since the systems do not support > > the mothers of disabled daughters, they consider abuse as legitimate > > abuse. > > My understanding is that mainstream research on violence indicates a > > lack of understanding about issues of abuse of women with > > disabilities. As secure, accessible and protective accommodations for > > disabled women are available, I protest the label of being > > 'vulnerable'. My contention is that the issues of women with > > disabilities should be understood structurally. As a myriad political, > > economic, legal and social forces are instrumental to the ongoing > > likelihood of violence and conflict, unless the underlying > > inequalities are solved, the violence will continue to appear. > > Asexualisation of disabled women > > Finally, I would like to point to the politics of control, which gets > > activated through the nature of the 'gaze' and violence. Gaze has been > > historically established, pervasive, powerful, gendered and > > engendering structure of control and dominance in a given culture. My > > contention is that in case of the disabled women, it is not only the > > male gaze, but also an able bodied gaze, which has to be encountered. > > In my interviews with disabled women, the most difficult discussions > > are around a culture where any deviation from a norm is seen as a > > marked deviation, and the impaired body becomes a symbol of > > imperfection. The myth of the beautiful body defines the impaired > > female body as unfeminine and unacceptable. The ramifications of such > > historical rendering are to be found in the North Indian Punjabi > > culture, where, for instance, girls -- though allowed to interact with > > their male cousins -- are not allowed to sleep in the same room. > > Disabled girls, on the other hand, are under no such prohibitions, as > > they are considered sexually safe, or asexual (Ghai, 2002c). The > > assumption is that they will not perceive any of the interaction as a > > 'come on signal', nor invite a sexual encounter. It is almost as if a > > disabled girl is perceived not like other girls but 'above all that', > > which has the effect of freeing the other to imitate any action, which > > in more cases than not turns out to be exploitative. > > As the personal narrative of Simi reveals, "When I was young, I would > > be thrilled at being allowed to sleep in the same room as Vipin, who > > was my first cousin. However, as I grew up, I realised that this > > benevolent gesture of my family was to be understood as a complete > > de-sexualization of my body. Later that same cousin proposed to me and > > said that he was willing to satisfy my sexual desires, if I promised > > to keep quiet and not publicise the illicit liaison." > > Thus 'asexual objectification' highlights the disregard of the dangers > > of sexual violation to which disabled girls are exposed. Although > > never reaching the headlines, there are enough instances, where their > > own fathers and uncles have sexually abused disabled girls. As one of > > my informants, whose sister has cerebral palsy revealed: "My sister > > always had problems in communicating because of speech problems. > > However after her school gave argumentative aids to her, she shared > > with me an experience, which was absolutely horrifying. At first, I > > did not believe her, yet her tears finally convinced me. My Dad's > > younger brother took advantage of the fact that both my mother and I > > had to leave town for work and college. As there was no school that > > would accept her after the age of 13, we had to leave her at home. He > > stayed with us for a month, and my sister became a wreck during that > > time. However, as she could not communicate, we attributed her > > agitation to her disability. It was only later that we came to know > > how he raped her everyday for a month or so. The maid who was to take > > care of her also cooperated with him for money. Even after this > > episode, my father refused to break his relationship with his brother. > > After being threatened that we all would commit suicide, he stopped > > visiting our house." (Quoted in Ghai, 2003, p. ) > > Thus violence against women with disabilities needs to be understood > > in terms of the relationship to gendered power relations and the > > historical, social and material conditions that perpetuate and > > reinforce violence. Violence not only includes physical, sexual and > > emotional abuse, as in hitting, rape and verbal abuse, but also > > incorporates other forms of violence, for example medical > > exploitation, institutional abuse and structural violence. > > Even though some positive answers have come in the form of the > > Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, some problems like the gender > > neutral definition of the perpetrator in sexual offences, as is > > currently the case, is not in the interest of disabled women. Also, > > the committee was much more sensitive to the issues, but the ordinance > > has given the "bare minimum". > > My submission is that 'personal is political' is still a slogan that > > we must internalize. Disabled women have to be a part of all the > > possible consultations that create disable friendly structures. More > > important, we need to share our lived realities, so that specter of > > violence and abuse can be eliminated. We need to tell ourselves that > > we are entitled not only to the citizenship rights, but to connect > > with the "able" society so that a safe world can be created. > > > > Source: > > > > > http://gritprajnya.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/unspeakable-inequalities-understanding-the-cycle-of-structural-violence-a-case-of-women-with-disabilities/ > > > > > > > > -- > > With best regards, > > Sanchit Katiyar. > > > > E-Mail: > > [email protected] > > > > Skype ID: > > sanchit.katiyar11 > > > > facebook: > > http://www.facebook.com/sanchit.katiyar.5 > > > > Mobile: > > +919013816320. > > +919456616244. > > > > > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility > of > > mobile phones / Tabs on: > > > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > > > > Search for old postings at: > > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > > > To unsubscribe send a message to > > [email protected] > > with the subject unsubscribe. > > > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please > > visit the list home page at > > > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > > > > Disclaimer: > > 1. 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