Mahi and Saanvi felt differently, perceiving their bodies' appearance as more important than their functioning. However, managing appearance was a way to reshape dominant narratives about disability. Like, dying one's hair.

University of North Texas

For women with disabilities, body functionality takes on additional significance, carrying implications for life domains ranging from health to education and employment. Research on young women with disabilities indicates that many consider their body's functionality to be more important than its appearance.

Body Functionality with Disability

Franzoi’s Body Conceptualization theory has identified two processes through which people may experience their bodies- either as objects of aesthetic evaluation or as dynamic processes in which functionality takes precedence over aesthetics.

Body Conceptualization

Dhillon, M., & Kumar, A. (2026). ‘Disabled and beautiful’: young women’s negotiations of beauty and body ideals. Disability & Society

‘Disabled and beautiful’: young women’s negotiations of beauty and body ideals

Participants on Their Functionality

Foucault’s ‘docile body’ is a body that is subject to internal self-discipline. This demands a loss of power as the self-discipline stems from subjugation to hegemonic discourses and disciplinary mechanisms exercised in post-modern societies. 

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