ABSTRACT
Women with disabilities experience a higher proportion of gender-based violence, sexual abuse, low access to reproductive health and rights, low participation in decision making and minimal or no access to property ownership due to gender and disability discrimination. Moreover, their overall literacy rates are lower and unemployment rates are higher than those of their male counterparts. While there are significant numbers of women with disabilities in Kenya and India, they largely remain invisible. The authors compare and contrast the experiences and recognition of women with disabilities in each state. Kenya has a rich culture with diverse ethnic groups and regions, with over 42 tribes and different regions, including the nomadic communities. Similarly, India is a country of immense ethnic and regional differences. The invisibility of women with disabilities is further compounded by their ethnic and regional identities. Women with disabilities in rural areas and minority ethnic groups in both countries experience low representation in governance, education and economic empowerment. For women with psychosocial disability and other invisible disabilities, representation and active participation in the disability and feminist spaces are often skewed, rendering them more invisible and exposing them to increased violation of their rights.
