Disability, Marriage and Stigma: A Sociological and Socioeconomic Perspective

K. Pavani Sree; Chingshubam Manimohon Singh

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.73932

Disability, Marriage and Stigma: A Sociological and Socioeconomic Perspective

Author(s)	Dr. K. Pavani Sree, Dr. Chingshubam Manimohon Singh
Country	India
Abstract	This paper examines the interrelationship between disability, marriage, and stigma within the socio-cultural context of India, drawing on insights from the Sociology of Disability and gender studies. Moving beyond biomedical understandings of disability, the study adopts a social constructionist perspective to argue that disability is produced and sustained through societal norms, institutional practices, and cultural attitudes. Central to this analysis is Erving Goffman’s conceptualization of stigma, which frames disability as a socially devalued identity, leading to exclusion from key social institutions, particularly marriage. The paper highlights how marriage in India, as a deeply normative and socially regulated institution, reproduces ableist and patriarchal values that marginalize persons with disabilities, especially women. Disabled women experience “double marginalization” due to the intersection of gender and disability, where their bodies are constructed as undesirable, asexual, or incapable of fulfilling normative marital roles. The study further explores how legal frameworks, cultural beliefs, and practices such as dowry and arranged marriage reinforce exclusionary attitudes, despite the presence of welfare schemes and policy interventions. By critically engaging with themes of stigma, embodiment, and social exclusion, the paper argues that marriage becomes a site where structural inequalities are reproduced and normalized. It calls for a shift toward rights-based and inclusive approaches that recognize persons with disabilities as equal participants in intimate and social life. Ultimately, the study underscores the need to transform societal attitudes and institutional frameworks to enable dignity, autonomy, and full citizenship for persons with disabilities in India.
Keywords	Dowry System, Gender, Disability, Marriage, Patriarchy, Social Stigma
Field	Sociology > Health
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-04-09
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.73932

View / Download PDF File

E-ISSN 2582-2160

doi

CrossRef DOI is assigned to each research paper published in our journal.

IJFMR DOI prefix is
10.36948/ijfmr

Downloads

Research Paper Format Copyright Permission Form and Undertaking Form Cover Page Vol 8 Isu 2 Cover Page Vol 8 Isu 1 Cover Page Vol 7 Isu 6

All research papers published on this website are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and all rights belong to their respective authors/researchers.

CC-BY-SA

About IJFMR Fees & Payment Current Issue Publication Archive	Submit Research Paper Track Submission Status Publication Guidelines Publication Ethics Peer Review & Plagiarism	Join as a Reviewer Editors & Reviewers Reviewer Referral Program Get Reviewer Membership Certi.	Website/Journal Policies Usage Policy Content Policies Privacy Policy

Contact Us		+91-9687-828-838	editor@ijfmr.com

International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

Disability, Marriage and Stigma: A Sociological and Socioeconomic Perspective

Share this