Rethinking Disability and Sexuality in India: Breaking Stereotypes and Advocating for Sexual Rights

This paper critically examines the marginalization of disabled persons in relation to their sexual identities, both within the Indian context and globally, focusing on challenging entrenched stereotypes and societal neglect. Despite growing advocacy for sexual rights as fundamental human rights, disabled persons are often excluded from these conversations. Globally, and especially in India, societal narratives largely adhere to a medical tragedy model, which frames disability as a condition of deficit, ignoring the individuality and sexual identities of disabled people. This model fosters the widespread belief that disabled individuals are asexual or sexually deviant, perpetuating stereotypes that hinder their sexual autonomy. In India, the dominant culture of charity and welfare, rooted in colonial history, has further sidelined the rights and empowerment of disabled people. Although the Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995 initiated discussions on educational and employment opportunities, sexual rights remain absent from public discourse. The lack of sexual education for disabled individuals leaves them vulnerable to exploitation, misinformation, and exclusion, reinforcing their disenfranchisement in both social and sexual spheres. Globally, research highlights the limited opportunities for people with disabilities to explore their sexual identities. Studies have consistently shown that disabled persons face significant barriers in accessing sexual health education and are often overprotected by caregivers, preventing them from developing healthy sexual autonomy. The absence of such education compounds existing societal prejudices, reinforcing the notion that disabled people are either asexual or incapable of engaging in sexual relationships.

This paper seeks to deconstruct these deeply ingrained stereotypes and explore the complex realities of sexual identity, orientation, and behavior among disabled individuals in India. It calls for a paradigm shift toward a rights-based framework, recognizing sexual autonomy as a fundamental aspect of disability rights, crucial to their broader social and individual empowerment.