Othering Due to Religion and Disability: Intersecting Identities in India

Abstract India has a complex social structure due in part to its rich cultural and spiritual history. It has entrenched religious, caste and class, and gender systems and norms. With a population of more than a billion people, it also has a significant prevalence of disability. These different aspects of identity intersect and interact with each other, influencing how people experience their lives. To develop an understanding of how social disadvantage is manifested, this paper uses an intersectional lens to explore the experiences of people who are ‘otherized’ due a combination of aspects of their identity including religion, disability and caste. The intersection of disability and religion is an under researched area. Data were gathered from a purposive sample of 25 participants with disabilities from minority religious backgrounds in the two Indian sates of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Participatory qualitative methodologies were used to gather data on the lives of the participants. Narrative interviews were used to allow the participants to describe in their own words their experiences of inequality. A thematic analysis of the data was undertaken, providing rich and highly contextual accounts of the lives of participants. Identity in India was found to be complex, and experiences of inclusion/exclusion were far from homogenous. Participants reported experiencing ‘othering’ due to various combinations of their identities. This discrimination was often compounded and more acutely felt by people who had multiple aspects of their identity that were different from the majority of the population. Further research is needed to establish ways to address discrimination based on intersecting aspects of identity, including religion, disability, and caste.