Feminist Sosyal Hizmet Perspektifinden Fiziksel Engelli Kadınların Annelik Deneyimleri

Abstract

The aim of the research is to explore the motherhood experiences of women with physically disabilities. The research was carried out between February 2021 and December 2022. In this research, which was carried out with the qualitative research method, the feminist methodology was taken as the basis. The subjects of the research were reached by criterion sampling and snowball sampling. The subjects of the research are women with physically disabilities (orthopedically, visually and hearing) who have children between the ages of 0-18. The research was carried out with the participation of a total of 21 women, including 6 women with orthopedic disabilities, 7 women with visual disabilities, and 8 women with hearing and speech disabilities. The data collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews from the subjects of the research were analyzed with descriptive analysis. NVIVO 12+ qualitative data analysis software was used to analyze the data. According to the research findings, physically disabled women who are mothers experience the pressures arising from being disabled in a robust society and being a woman in a patriarchal society in an intersectional way. In the maternity process, women with physically disabilities face difficulties while performing their birth practices due to the fact that maternity care services are not provided in an accessible way, public spaces are not arranged according to the needs of women with disabilities and baby care equipment is not designed according to the universal design principle. On the other hand, women which disabled mother, face social pressures over their motherhood role adequacy. In the process, the social policies and social services necessary to eliminate the oppression faced by women are insufficient, and women are trying to become stronger with their own coping strategies. Solidarity is an important pratical for women to cope with their difficulties and build their subjective experiences of motherhood. The research was concluded with suggestions in the focus of feminist social work for social policies and social services that will contribute to the empowerment of women with disabilities who are mothers.