WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES, DO WE LIVE IN A FAIR WORLD?

March 8th, International Women's Day. An occasion to celebrate social and political achievements, but also a moment to shed light on the gender discrimination, violence, and inequalities that sadly persist in our society.

Work, money, knowledge, time, power, health, violence against women. On October 24th, the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) released the 2023 Gender Equality Index, examining these aforementioned areas of daily life where women are at risk of being disadvantaged compared to men. This report provided specific insights into people with disabilities in contexts such as education, employment, economic status, and health.

From the EU average, referring to the period 2021/22, it emerges that:

• 20% of women with disabilities have full-time employment, compared to 29% of men with disabilities, 48% of women without disabilities, and 64% of men without disabilities (data referring to the population aged 15 to 89). However, the career prospects score for women with disabilities is slightly higher than that of men with disabilities but lower than that of men and women without disabilities.
• 17% of women with disabilities have a tertiary education diploma compared to 18% of men with disabilities, 32% of women without disabilities, and 29% of men without disabilities.
• 22% of women with disabilities are at risk of poverty, compared to 20% of men with disabilities, 16% of women without disabilities, and 15% of men without disabilities. The average monthly earnings and equivalent net income of women with disabilities are lower than those of men with disabilities and men and women without disabilities.
• Women with disabilities perform caregiving activities: 28% of women with disabilities care for and educate their children or grandchildren, the elderly, or people with disabilities every day, compared to 20% of men with disabilities, 26% of men without disabilities, and 40% of women without disabilities. Many women with disabilities perform domestic work like women without disabilities (78%), at a much higher rate than men with disabilities (40%) and men without disabilities (30%).
• 18% of women with disabilities perceive themselves to be in good or excellent health, compared to 21% of men with disabilities, 84% of women without disabilities, and 87% of men without disabilities.

These percentages are concerning and indicate that there is still a long way to go to break down gender inequalities, even in disability. Specifically, women with disabilities in Italy are more likely to be discriminated against in mass communication campaigns, experience violence against women, lack physical accessibility and information about sexual and reproductive health services, and face occupational challenges.

What does all this entail? By not adequately addressing the specific needs of women with disabilities, these issues are consequently far from resolution. This is why we are proud of how the Limitless approach to breaking down barriers is D2D, "disabled to disabled": a revolution that starts from within, acknowledging that a truly definitive solution in every field cannot ignore the active contribution of people with disabilities.

In our Team, for example, we are proud to have Benedetta De Luca , born with a rare medical condition known as sacral agenesis or caudal regression syndrome, which involves a congenital malformation of the lower spinal segments, associated with aplasia or hypoplasia of the sacrum and lumbar spine. A condition that affects on average 1 in 60,000 births.

With a degree in law, Benedetta became a lawyer, only to realize that her health conditions could not allow her to perform this demanding job to the best of her abilities, so she decided to pursue another passion of hers: the world of social media.

This is the essence of the content Benedetta creates every day: breaking down stereotypes related to women with disabilities, considered by society as asexual and not interested in feeling beautiful and fashionable, while promoting diversity as uniqueness and beauty, not something to hide or be ashamed of. All of this, with a touch of humor.

Now, more than ever, it's time to step up and actively play our part.