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Impairment arises from physical or psychological causes such as accidents or genetics, while disability is shaped by social prejudices and the exploitative attitudes of the able-bodied. It deprives the impaired of identity, creating layers of oppression through discrimination, patriarchal norms, and the male gaze. Families, too, may suffer stigma and exclusion. Medically, disability is seen as disease, but theology often interprets it as divine punishment. In contrast, the social model promotes inclusion, autonomy, and a shift in perceptions by reducing barriers. Cinema, as an audio-visual medium, plays a crucial role in raising awareness, shaping attitudes, and addressing stereotypes. The portrayals of disability in film evoke pity, empathy, admiration, or discrimination, reflecting challenges while also providing entertainment. This paper analyses cinematic representations to examine stereotyping, stigmatisation, and the intersection of gender and disability, while tracing the evolution of depictions of women with disabilities from the 20th to the 21st century.
Zahra Ahmad. “Evolving approach of representation of disability in women from the 20th century to the 21st century in Indian Hindi cinema.” The Criterion: An International Journal in English, vol. 17, no. 2, Apr. 2026, pp. 801–829. DOI, https://doi.org/10.66376/criterion.v17.n2.52.
Open Access · CC BY 4.0 · Crossref DOI ·
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