People with disabilities have lower educational attainment than those without, averaging 6.47 years compared to 8.46 years. There is a significant gender gap, as girls and women with disabilities in China are disadvantaged at various educational levels. In 2017, women with disabilities accounted for only 34% of graduates at primary and secondary levels, and their enrollment rates were similarly low compared to male peers. While women without disabilities have seen increased representation in higher education since the late 1990s, data on women with disabilities in this sector remains limited.

Lower Educational Attainment

Studies indicate that women with disabilities (WwD) in China face greater employment challenges than their male counterparts. Approximately 34.93 million, or 42%, of people with disabilities are of working age. While the overall labor force participation for women was around 72% in 1990, it dropped to 64% in 2014. For WwD, participation is under 20%, significantly lower than the 26% for all people with disabilities. Gender greatly impacts employment status, with only 35.63% of WwD employed versus 64.37% of men with disabilities. The average yearly income for women with disabilities in 2010 was about $507, which is 85.9% of men’s earnings and 28.5% of what women without disabilities earn.

Greater Employment Challenges and Lower Income

Grassroots organizations like Beijing Enable Sister Center and One Plus One Disability Group highlight that women with disabilities (WwD) face employment discrimination and sexual violence. During the #MeToo movement in China, many WwD shared their experiences. Women with visual impairments in the massage industry are particularly vulnerable, often unable to identify perpetrators and lacking employer support, forcing them to endure violence or leave their jobs. This issue also affects women with hearing impairments and is worsen by stigma, making reporting incidents difficult. Similar incidents occur across various industries, leaving victims to suffer while perpetrators remain unpunished.

Violence Against WwD

China has approximately 85 million persons with disabilities, with about 40.19 million, or 48.45%, being women. Here are the findings:
- Education
- Employment
- Violence

Portland State University

Research shows that women with disabilities (WwD) face greater disadvantages than men with disabilities or those without disabilities due gender and disability type. This study focuses on WwD in China within a global context, noting that while feminist research in China is growing, it often overlooks this group. WwD in China encounter numerous barriers related to autonomy, marriage, social support, legal protection, education, employment, and they are at a higher risk of violence.

Understanding women with disabilities in China in the global context

Zhang, W., Bjørnstøl, E., Ding, P., Gao, W., Liu, H., & Liu, Y. (2023). Disability, Sexuality, and Gender in Asia. In Routledge eBooks. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003170297

Disability, Sexuality, and Gender in Asia

It is uncommon for women with disabilities (WwD) to share their experiences publicly in China due to deep-rooted prejudice and stigma associated with disability. As a result, they often face physical and social barriers that limit their participation in society. People with disability frequently face discriminatory language in daily conversations and written communications. This creates a limited social space for people with disabilities. They face both negative attitudes and institutional barriers that exclude and marginalize them. A lot of people still believe that disabled people did bad things in their previous life, which is why they have a disability in this life to repay for their bad deeds.

Prejudice and Stigma Surrounding Disability in Chinese Society

According to the World Report on Disability (2011), around 15% of the world’s population are people with disabilities, and disability prevalence for men and women is respectively 12% and 19.2%. Some experts suggest that up to 20% of women in the developing world may experience significant disabilities at some point in their lives. This indicates a substantial number of women worldwide are living with various disabling conditions.

Women with Disabilities Around The World

Despite the significant challenges faced by women with disabilities (WwD) globally, most literature on disability does not specifically address WwD. Research on WwD has gained attention only in the last three decades, primarily focusing on developed countries, while the majority live in developing nations. Feminist research often overlooks WwD. Most existing studies concentrate on women with physical disabilities, with very few on sensory, mental, or other disabilities. 

A Call For More Research to Focus on Women With Disability

China has made significant progress in including people with disabilities in society. They have established a legal framework protecting the rights of persons with disabilities through its Constitution (Article 34 & 35, 1982) and the Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities (Article 3, 1990). These laws ensure equal rights, such as voting and freedom of speech, and aim to eliminate discrimination. Additional regulations on employment (2007) and education (1994) support these protections. China signed the CRPD (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) in 2007 and ratified it in 2008 which protects and promotes the human rights of people with disabilities.

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