Women, Disability and Social Support in Rural Haryana

Women with disabilities in India face double discrimination due to prevalence of traditional gender roles and expectations. This paper explores the nature and form of disability afflicting the individual and social life of women in rural Haryana, both in terms of physical and mental parameters. It describes community and family strategies in supporting disabled women in negotiating family, work, economy and society. It also highlights the social effects of physical disability on various stages of their life cycle, explored through life histories of women belonging to different age groups and those belonging to different castes.