Among women, the woman with a disability is seen as inferior, and even among other people with disabilities she is not their equal. Thus they become the poorest of people, leaving them at increased risk of ill-health. Women in poorer communities, and particularly those in the developing countries, appear to be more vulnerable to disability. Yet, overall, there are more disabled men than women. That there are fewer women than men with disabilities, despite the fact that women generally live longer than men, may indicate that girls and women with disabilities simply receive less care and support than men, leading to earlier death.
Disabled women face discrimination from birth.
It is not unknown for children born with congenital disabilities to be killed or left to die. This is far more likely to happen in the case of a girl-child. If allowed to survive, the girl-child is likely to continue to face discrimination within the family, receive less care and food, and be left out of family interactions and activities. She will have less access to health care and rehabilitation services, fewer education and employment opportunities, and little hope of marriage. She will also be more vulnerable to physical and mental abuse.