Núcleo Disca

Disability and citizenship

Archive

  1. Cairo-Lisboa 2024: Três Décadas de Direitos e Saúde Sexual e Reprodutiva em Debate

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    Summary:

    “This compilation brings together a collection of academic texts selected within the framework of the CAIRO-LISBON2024 conference — The Challenges of Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Health in Portugal, in Lusophone Countries and in Latin America, held online by ISCTE—University Institute of Lisbon, on December 5 and 6, 2024, with national and international participants. This conference was organized to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo in 1994, a historic milestone that redefined the way development policies are conceived, placing human rights, gender equality, and sexual and reproductive health at the center of the global agenda.”

     

    Notes:

    • The following summary was provided by Pía Rodríguez Garrido, a member of the book’s organizing team. It is the summary of the book in Spanish.
    • This book is not free to access. It is available for purchase in eBook format at the following link: https://repositorio.iscte-iul.pt/handle/10071/35454
    • This book was originally published in Portuguese.

  2. El derecho a la maternidad: Violencia ginecológica y obstétrica hacia mujeres con discapacidad en Chile [The right to motherhood: Gynecological and obstetric violence against women with disabilities in Chile]

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    Summary:

    “At a crucial historical moment, this book sheds light on the questions arising from the alarming decline in birth rates globally, and especially in Chile. This compilation, in which we find a wide range of researchers presenting their investigations and reflections, demonstrates that what is beginning to be understood globally, and in public opinion, as a problem, has a group of academics, intellectuals, and activists in our country reflecting on and proposing its causes and policies for solutions. This pluralistic argument allows us to understand “motherhood” in Chile, on the one hand, and the decline in birth rates, on the other, as the product of multiple factors that go beyond purely economic explanations. It is, therefore, a book that offers insights that enrich the debate, but above all—and perhaps therein lies its true contribution—that continues to raise questions.”

     

    Notes:

    • This description was written by Sonia Montecino Aguirre and appears on the back cover of the book “Maternities: Current Challenges of Gender, Family, and Fertility,” published by Fondo de Cultura Económica in Chile. The text “The Right to Motherhood: Gynecological and Obstetric Violence Against Women with Disabilities in Chile” corresponds to Chapter 23 of that book.
    • This book is not free. It is available for purchase at Fondo de Cultura Económica bookstores.
    • This book was originally published in Spanish.

  3. ‘¿Vino solita?’: Investigando las experiencias de madres con discapacidad [‘Did you come alone?’: Investigating the experiences of mothers with disabilities]

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    Points of interest:

    • The author reflects on the challenges faced by mothers with disabilities in Chile, based on her personal experience.
    • Based on data from the National Disability Survey and interviews, the chapter notes that many women with disabilities are mothers.
    • However, people with disabilities experience motherhood under surveillance, stigmatization, and a lack of support.
    • Society questions the parenting abilities of people with disabilities, which puts them at risk of losing custody of their children.
    • The text highlights that motherhood for women with disabilities is an act of resistance against ableism.
    • The text argues that women with disabilities can be mothers and that this enriches diversity, which is beneficial for society.

     

    Notes:

    • This publication is a chapter from the book “Maternities: Current Challenges of Gender, Family, and Fertility.”
    • This book is not free to access. It is available for purchase in “Fondo de Cultura Económica” bookstores.
    • This book was originally published in Spanish.

  4. Actitudes frente a la maternidad y la preservación de la fertilidad en mujeres universitarias: Un estudio transversal [Attitudes Toward Motherhood and Fertility Preservation Among University Women: A Cross-Sectional Study]

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    Points of interest:

    • In Chile, fewer and fewer children are being born. In 1962, women had an average of 5 children. Today, that number has dropped to just over 1 child per woman.
    • This research aims to understand how university women see their reproductive future, their intention to become mothers, and their willingness to preserve their fertility by freezing their eggs.
    • A self-administered and semi-structured survey was conducted with 1,020 students from Universidad Diego Portales in Santiago. The average age was 21 years. Most of the women believe that before becoming mothers, they should finish their studies, have a stable job, and be able to support themselves with their own income.
    • For many university women, becoming a mother is not a current priority. They think of motherhood as something that could happen later, when they feel more prepared. Also, only a small group believes it is necessary to have a partner or be married to have children.
    • Teen pregnancies have also decreased, which is related to better access to contraceptives and better sex education. This has given women more freedom to decide about motherhood.
    • The study highlights the need for public policies on reproduction and family planning that are adapted to the new realities and priorities of Chilean women.

     

    Notes:

    • The following summary was prepared by Núcleo Milenio DISCA and is based exclusively on the original publication. Therefore, it should not be used for citations or references.
    • This article was originally published in Spanish.

  5. Women with disabilities and the loss of custody of their children: “Carers, but not mothers”

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    Points of interest:

    • Historically, the motherhood of women with disabilities has been questioned due to negative representations about them. It is often assumed that women with disabilities cannot be mothers, and when they are, their ability to care for their children is doubted.
    • According to international literature, women with disabilities are at greater risk of losing custody of their children. However, in Chile, there is little evidence about this issue.
    • This article analyzes the experiences of three Chilean mothers with disabilities who faced legal proceedings regarding the custody of their sons or daughters.
    • The findings show several difficulties that women with disabilities must face in order to prove they are capable of being mothers.
    • The article concludes that, if proper support is provided and the disabling view is changed, mothers with disabilities can provide the care and parenting their children need.

     

    Notes:

    • The following summary was prepared by Núcleo Milenio DISCA and is based exclusively on the original publication. Therefore, it should not be used for citations or references.
    • This article was originally published in English.

  6. Discapacidad en Chile: una introducción [Disability in Chile: an introduction]

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    Disability in Chile: An Introduction (The book is only published in Spanish)

    “Disability in Chile: An Introduction” offers a comprehensive analysis of the physical, social, and attitudinal barriers faced by people with disabilities, while promoting a shift towards a human rights-based approach. This book aims to change the paradigm of disability in Chile, placing the issue at the center of public discourse from a social and human rights perspective.

    Throughout its 10 chapters, it examines how people with disabilities face significant barriers to participating in society, from education and employment to family life, politics, and access to justice.

    The text is not limited to a single disability but addresses a wide range of experiences, using a general and inclusive approach. Moreover, the authors, many of whom have direct experience with disability, provide evidence-based analyses and propose solutions to eliminate barriers that prevent full inclusion.

    The book brings together contributions from leading experts and is aimed at a wide audience, including academics, people with disabilities, professionals in the field, family members, and anyone interested in social justice and inclusion.

    How to Access the Book:

    Discapacidad en Chile: una introducción

  7. ‘Five rungs down’: encounters between disabled parents and the medical institution

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    Points of interest:

    • We analyzed short stories where disabled parents share how they are treated by health personnel (for example, doctors and nurses).
    • Disabled parents say that health personnel do not see them and do not believe they can do things.
    • In these stories, health personnel pay more attention to the parent’s disability than to the child who needs medical attention.
    • Health personnel understand disability as something that limits a person. This can make it difficult for parents and children to get the help they need.
    • Disabled parents look for ways to deal with the way health personnel treat them and to ensure that their children receive care from the health staff.

     

    Notes:

    • This summary was made by Núcleo Milenio DISCA, and was based exclusively on the publication. It cannot be used for citations and references.
    • This article was originally published in English.

  8. Gyneco-obstetric violence and its impact on the mental health of women with disabilities: a case study in Chile

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    Points of interest:

    • The central theme of the article is the analysis of obstetric violence experiences of women with disabilities in Chile.
    • The study was done by conducting in-depth interviews, and analyzing social media and shadow or alternative reports. These types of reports refer to reports built by civil society organizations. Thus, these reports are used to complement those that governments build and review whether they are complying with human rights standards in the country.
    • Data from the study show that women’s sexual and reproductive rights are violated in the Chilean health system.
    • Interviews show that obstetric violence has many ways of expressing itself. Some of these forms are forced sterilization and stigma towards women’s mental health.
    • One way to start a conversation about obstetric violence is in common spaces. So that women can share their experiences with other women who have been through similar situations.
    • It is very important that health-care teams know how to meet the needs of people with disabilities. This serves to prevent cases of obstetric violence in women with disabilities.

    Notes:

    • The following summary was made by Núcleo Milenio DISCA, and was based exclusively on the publication. Therefore, it cannot be used for citations and references.
    • This article was originally published in English.

  9. Haitianizacion de la migración: La falta de apego de mujeres haitianas en el discurso médico de la ciudad de Rancagua, Chile [Haitianization of Migration: The Lack of Attachment of Haitian Women in the Medical Discourse of the City of Rancagua, Chile]

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    Points of interest:

    • The objective of this article is to analyze the narratives of medical professionals in the city of Rancagua (capital of the O’Higgins Region, central Chile), about the reproductive health/motherhood of Haitian women.
    • Haitian women face more obstacles to receiving good medical care: there are no translators, there is a lack of information, and cultural differences are not respected.
    • Being a mother and a migrant is difficult. Many times, these women are judged for not fitting the image of a “good mother” according to what is expected in Chile. This puts them in an unfair position and their way of interacting with their babies is questioned.
    • Doctors in Rancagua say that Haitian women do not show enough affection to their babies. This was called “lack of attachment” in the research.
    • Doctors compare Haitian mothers with other migrant mothers and say that they do not care for their children in the same way. This creates mistrust toward them.
    • The study shows that Haitian women are discriminated against for being Black. Medical staff see them as different, inferior, or “less civilized.”
    • Racist ideas influence how these women are treated. Negative images are built that affect their access to healthcare and that of their children.
    • More births, same problems. Although the number of Haitian women giving birth in Rancagua has increased, the health system has not changed or adapted to serve them better.
    • Importance of the intercultural approach. The study says a change is necessary. Health care needs to understand and respect different cultures and ways of being a mother.

     

    Notes:

    • The following summary was prepared by Núcleo Milenio DISCA and is based exclusively on the original publication. Therefore, it should not be used for citations or references.
    • This article was originally published in English and Spanish.