‘We are mirrored in your gaze’: experiences and outcomes of stigma and discrimination for women with disability and mental distress

Abstract

Women who have lived experience of disability and mental distress can be subject to ‘double stigma’ resulting from discriminatory views of both disability and mental illness. More research is required to build a nuanced understanding of these experiences and their outcomes. This paper seeks to contribute to this project of understanding, by sharing findings from qualitative and arts-based research undertaken with women living in Australia. We report on outcomes resulting from stigma and discrimination including: feeling devalued as a social being, experiencing barriers to participation, being cast as a ‘type’ or ‘body’, and the internalisation of ableist and sanist views. Over time, many participants recognised the pernicious influence of ableism and sanism and adopted a social view of disability and mental health, that enabled them to combat discriminatory actions and helped them celebrate their unique personhood. To illustrate our findings, we share first-person narratives and body maps by research participants.