Challenges, Promoting Factors of Disparity and Coping Strategies for Women Employees with Disabilities: Evidence from Malawi

Abstract

Background: Persons with disabilities often face discrimination and marginalization, particularly women. This undermines the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that promote equality and equity. Therefore, identifying the underlying factors and ways of ameliorating such challenges is imperative for equality and inclusiveness. 

Objectives: The study's main objectives were to identify the challenges faced by women with disabilities in their workplaces in Malawi, promoting factors that cause such challenges and the coping strategies adopted in overcoming such challenges.

Method: The present study adopted a qualitative research design. The participants for the study were forty-five working women with disabilities, identified through purposive sampling. The data was collected through interviews and analyzed thematically.

Results: The results revealed that women employees with disabilities face diverse challenges, such as stigma and prejudice. The factors that were promoting such challenges included gender, marital status, and minority status of these women. The study also revealed self-confidence and withdrawal as the different coping strategies adopted by these women.

Conclusion: The current study demonstrated the need to increase awareness and support/intervention services for women with disabilities in the workplace, especially women in a volatile society such as Malawi, to enhance social and cultural inclusiveness.

Contribution: The study created more awareness of the need to provide an enabling environment and social security for women with disabilities in the workplace.