Social Stigma: An Association of Social Exclusion of Women with Disabilities in Kohat Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

The current study aims to analyze the association of
extent of social exclusion of women with disabilities (dependent
variable) with social stigma (independent variable). The study
was conducted in Kohat Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A
sample size of 370 respondents was proportionally allocated to
each District of Kohat Division. To approach the respondents,
social welfare Offices in the concerned districts i.e. Kohat,
Hangu and Karak were also taken onboard. For interviewing
deaf and dump disabled respondents, ‘senior oral instructors’
were also hired for interpreting the response to different
attributes of the questionnaire. The association of independent
variable (social stigma) and dependent variable (extent of social
exclusion of women with disabilities) were tested by using Chi-
Square Statistics. This study was carried out in three districts of
Kohat division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan. Nature of the
respondents was physically challenged, deaf, dump and dwarf.
Whereas intellectually challenged or mentally retarded disabled
persons were not considered appropriate by the researcher in
term of their incapacitated response to the questions in
interview schedule. The nature of the study was cross-sectional
due to time constraints. The association of extent of social of
women with disabilities was found significant with social stigma
associated with the disability. The study concluded that women
with disabilities are more prone to be socially excluded from the
society merely on the basis of stigma attached with impairment.
Raising awareness, convincing society to adapt socially
allowable behavior towards women with disability, were some
of the feasible policy recommendations made in order to
counter the menace of social construction of disability.