Today, pictures or videos are taken of us and used as educational tools for future doctors, with little thought given to our needs to have control over what happens to our bodies or who sees us. While the medical profession attempts to maintain control over our bodies, some women with disabilities may attempt to regain control through dieting, bingeing or other methods of body mutilation. The concept of body image as it impacts young girls and women with disabilities is crucial, especially when one looks at instances where the functioning of certain body parts must change and be altered, resulting in scars, diminished sensation or radically changing the physical state, for example, amputation, mastectomies. For many women with disabilities the message is clear - the way our bodies are now is neither acceptable nor desirable. Body image, self-image and esteem are often linked with the perceptions held by society, family and friends.
Disability challenges all notions of perfection and beauty as defined by popular, dominant culture.
This includes both a celebration of our range of sizes and shapes and abilities. This is a forum for the expression of ideas and opinions. We do, however reserve the right to exercise editorial discretion. Please do not reproduce material from this site without permission. This page last modified on January 21, 1998.