Abstract:
The politics of culture, motherhood and mothering in some African communities highlight the
tensions that exist in the broader feminist theology agenda. There are emerging politics
between the able and disabled feminist theologians where the binary of ability or disability is
ambiguously theologised. Written from a feminist theology of disability, this qualitative study
sought to understand and describe the struggles women with visual impairment face to be
accepted as being fit for motherhood. Emerging qualitative themes are used to develop
towards an African women theology of disability that responds to the plight of women
with disabilities. The findings indicate that women with disabilities are constantly challenging
and protesting ableism perceptions of motherhood by falling pregnant, giving birth and
nurturing their children. They argue that the binary perceptions of ability and disability are
informed by patriarchal ideologies and able-bodied women’s fears of being associated with
the vulnerability of disability.
