Breaking Barriers: Unveiling Narratives of Disability and Gender in Indian Digital Literature

Disability as a theme, image, or character underrepresents in Indian Literature in English. Disabled people’s writing also could not make the waves in mainstream Indian Literature. With the emergence and popularization of social media platforms, there has been a notable increase in digital media writing on various topics. However, exploration of marginal social categories, such as disability, gender, and caste, remains relatively limited. Nevertheless, there are promising writings emerging, particularly in the realm of disability. Disability Studies propound the social model, where disability is seen as a 'social construct,' contrary to the medical model, which views disability as 'something that needs to be cured,' and 'dis-abled'. The perception of disabled people as either helpless or heroic is an oversimplified and stereotypical representation that can contribute to marginalization. Self-representation of disabled women is deconstructing it. In this article, we are examining “‘Fake it till you make it’: Surviving the terrifying loneliness of being a young person with an amputation” by Parvathy Gopakumar, a self-narrative, written by disabled women featured in "Skin Stories: Essays on Sexuality, Disability, and Gender." This digital publication edited by Shreya Ila Anasuya. The study exclusively includes the narrative of Parvathy, who uses a prosthetic hand. It offers a firsthand perspective on the impact of accessibility on her daily experience. Her story challenges traditional perspectives on mobility, embodiment, and societal structures, inviting a nuanced exploration of accessibility, identity, and the intersections of gender and disability with various aspects of life. Parvathy Gopakumar's memoir offers a compelling counter-narrative to the prevalent societal norms that often marginalize individuals with disabilities, challenging and dismantling the stereotypes and stigmas associated with disability.