Still Inessential—Women with Disabilities, (Gender) Stereotypes, and Law

Although women with disabilities have gained greater visibility in more recent years, it is not unreasonable to argue that they are stillinessential and are among the most at risk of having their rights violated. After briefly recalling the theoretical and political reasons behind their historical inessentiality, the essay identifies the most prevalent sexist and ableist stereotypes and analyzes how they interact. To this aim, it examines two areas where the most serious violations of these women’s rights occur, namely violence and sexual and reproductive health, with particular attention to forced sterilization.