Disability-Ageing-Gender Intersectionality
Malaysia’s population is ageing rapidly: projections indicate that over 15% of the population will be aged 60 and above by 2030. Older adults, particularly women, are more likely to develop disabilities because of age-related health issues.
Older women with disabilities face intersecting forms of discrimination, bias and marginalization.
UN Women, 2002
Older women with disabilities face system-wide gender discrimination, ageism and ableism. This limits their access to essential resources and decision-making power across various aspects of living, including:
- Financial independence;
- Healthcare;
- Bodily autonomy;
- Access to information;
- Independent living;
- Access to justice.
This is further exacerbated by other forms of discrimination, including on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, and citizenship status. Consequently, older women with disabilities are especially vulnerable to violence, neglect and unemployment. Older disabled women and girls are also more likely to have restricted access to gender- and disability-affirming healthcare services.
Due to a lifetime of cumulative discrimination and inequities, older women often have less or no savings and fewer resources. Consequently, they may not have sufficient savings to maintain basic living standards. Many have to rely on family members for daily survival and care. Such dependence could increase their risk of being abused. In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that about one in six older adults living in the community has experienced abuse, and abuse in care institutions is just as common.
Resources
*Note: Resources linked are in English and website or PDF format, unless stated otherwise.
Gender, Age and Disability: Addressing the Intersection by UN Women
Situation of Older Women in Malaysia: Focus on Gender-Ageing-Disability Intersectionality by the Dementia Care Partner Journal Club, and the Autism Inclusiveness Direct Action Group (AIDA)