Employment, Poverty, Disability and Gender: A Rights Approach for Women with Disabilities in India, Nepal and Bangladesh

Abstract

In this chapter, we recognize the interrelationship of class/caste, ethnicity, gender and disability. We will begin our chapter with a brief overview of the problem of un/underemployment of women with disabilities in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Next, we will present the systemic labour market, socio-cultural and individual barriers and opportunities to employment for women with disabilities. Our discussion provides an overview of grassroots initiatives that promote economic well-being for women and men with disabilities in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. We conclude with recommendations to improve employment outcomes as a social determinant of health. We argue that access to paid employment as a human right, outlined in the UNCRPD, has specific relevance for women with disabilities. Further, if we are to consider "mental health" from the perspective of women with disabilities, we must simultaneously attend to discrimination against women with psycho-social disabilities (who may or may not be otherwise disabled) and to distress related to a greater likelihood of experiencing social exclusion, violence, oppression, and economic insecurity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)