The shadow of discrimination and gender barriers in the daily lives of women with disabilities at the university

Abstract

This article presents the results of a master's research on the experience of a deaf student in a Brazilian public university. The interface disability and gender in higher education is little discussed in the academic literature that is why the barriers against women with disabilities in the university are still hidden. In this way, it is necessary to give visibility to the topic in order to implement, in an intersectional way, the meaning of equality of opportunity. The collected data result from the use of semi-structured interview and shadowing technique that allowed the immersion of the researcher in the university daily of the young participant. The main results show that women with disabilities find different obstacles to enter and stay in the college career. These obstacles are not restricted to the academic space, since they begin in the life history of these women. It is interesting to say that the collective idea of overcoming disability is the trap that puts academic achievement or failure in the individual plan. Because of that, institutional responsibility for the changes for accessibility and gender equity is disguised.