The global march toward gender equality has reached a critical juncture, yet a persistent shadow remains over the movement: the systemic exclusion of women and girls with disabilities. As the international community marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, the conversation is shifting from mere representation to a fundamental realization that women’s rights and disability rights are not just parallel causes—they are inextricable. We cannot claim to have achieved universal suffrage if a woman using a wheelchair cannot physically enter a polling station. We cannot boast of progress in ending gender-based violence if a deaf survivor cannot find a sign-language interpreter to report a crime. And we cannot bridge the digital divide if the technologies of the future are built on algorithms that ignore or erase the lived experiences of those with different physical or cognitive needs.
For too long, policy frameworks have operated in silos, treating “women’s issues” and “disability issues” as distinct categories. This compartmentalization ignores the reality of intersectionality, where sexism and ableism collide to create unique, compounded barriers. When these two forces of marginalization meet, the result is a systemic failure that leaves millions of women and girls invisible to the very institutions designed to protect them. To achieve a world where every woman can thrive, the feminist movement must embrace a paradigm shift—one that recognizes that the liberation of one group is dependent on the inclusion of all.
At the heart of this struggle is the concept of intersectionality, a framework that moves beyond a “one-size-fits-all” approach to advocacy. While many women share the burdens of the gender pay gap, disproportionate care responsibilities, and the threat of violence, these challenges are not felt equally. A woman’s experience of the world is shaped by a complex web of identities, including her race, age, class, and ability. For a woman with a disability, the glass ceiling is often reinforced by physical and social barriers that prevent her from even entering the building. UN Women has increasingly championed this intersectional lens, acknowledging that to fight for the collective, we must understand the specific ways systemic injustices exacerbate one another. By addressing the unique challenges faced by women with disabilities, the movement for equality becomes more robust, more inclusive, and ultimately, more effective.
One of the most profound areas where gender and disability intersect is in the realm of care work. Globally, women perform an estimated 16 billion hours of unpaid care work every single day. This labor—comprising cooking, cleaning, fetching water, and caring for children and the elderly—is the invisible engine that keeps the global economy running. However, this burden is even more complex within the disability community. Women and girls with disabilities are frequently the primary caregivers within their families, often performing this labor while navigating their own lack of support and social stigma. Conversely, the lack of robust, publicly funded care systems leaves many women with disabilities vulnerable to human rights violations, including forced institutionalization or inadequate medical care.
The current “care crisis” demands a revolution in how society values support systems. Without equitable care models, the responsibility falls almost entirely on the shoulders of women, trapping them in a cycle of poverty and exhaustion. A truly inclusive care economy would prioritize community-based models that provide resources for parents of children with special needs and ensure that women with disabilities who are caregivers themselves receive the recognition and financial support they deserve. Moving away from institutionalized “care” toward dignity-centered, disability-inclusive services is not just a social necessity; it is a human rights imperative.
The importance of this advocacy is best captured by those on the front lines. One survivor, who grew up navigating the world after contracting polio, reflects on the necessity of collective action: “I grew up in a very difficult situation. This is why I formed a group of women with disabilities—to amplify the voice, to create awareness, to advocate for rights—so that at least people should learn from us.” This sentiment underscores a vital truth: women with disabilities are not merely passive recipients of aid; they are leaders, organizers, and experts in their own lives whose voices are essential to the broader feminist struggle.
As we look toward the future, the role of technology presents both a promise and a peril. Assistive technology (AT) has the potential to revolutionize autonomy for women with disabilities, offering new ways to communicate, work, and navigate the world. From screen readers to mobility aids, these tools are essential for inclusion. However, the rapid rise of digital spaces has also birthed new forms of harm. Technology-facilitated violence, including digital stalking and AI-generated abuse, disproportionately targets women, with studies suggesting that between 16 and 58 percent of women have been impacted by some form of online harassment.
For women with disabilities, the risks of the digital age are magnified by the “black box” of artificial intelligence. AI systems are frequently trained on datasets that lack diversity, leading to algorithmic bias that can exclude people with disabilities from job opportunities, healthcare, or education. If an AI tool used for hiring is trained only on the resumes of “typical” candidates, it may automatically filter out a woman who has a gap in her employment history due to a health condition or who uses non-traditional communication methods. To combat this, there is an urgent call for “universal design” in tech development—ensuring that diverse teams, including women with disabilities, are involved in the creation of AI from the ground up. Technology should be a bridge to opportunity, not a new wall of exclusion.
The final frontier of this struggle is the quest for accountability and justice. In many legal systems, gender and disability are still treated as separate issues, leading to significant gaps in protection. For example, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—a landmark blueprint for women’s rights—requires constant updating to ensure that its implementation is truly disability-inclusive. Accountability also means ensuring that the halls of justice are physically and procedurally accessible.
Currently, many women with disabilities face insurmountable hurdles when seeking legal recourse. A woman who is deaf may find that her local police station has no sign-language interpreters, effectively silencing her. A woman with an intellectual disability may be dismissed by a judge who assumes she is not a “credible” witness, a prejudice that allows abusers to act with impunity. Furthermore, many women with disabilities are economically or physically dependent on their abusers, making the act of seeking help a life-threatening risk. True justice requires that law enforcement, policymakers, and the judiciary receive specialized training to dismantle these barriers.
As the world reflects on the progress made since the Beijing Declaration, it is clear that the path forward must be paved with intersectional policies. This means integrating disability inclusion into every facet of the UN’s work and national governance, from the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) to local municipal planning. It means recognizing that a woman’s right to bodily autonomy, economic independence, and political participation is nullified if her specific needs as a person with a disability are ignored.
The rise of disability rights and gender equality must happen in tandem. By centering the experiences of women and girls with disabilities, we do not just help a specific subgroup; we strengthen the foundation of human rights for everyone. When we build a world that is accessible to the most marginalized, we build a world that is better, fairer, and more resilient for all. The “care revolution,” the push for ethical AI, and the demand for accessible justice are not just aspirations—they are the essential components of a truly equal future.
