2026/01/02 by Lindokuhle Ubisi · 1 voice
Psychology · Arts and Humanities · #Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies #Diversity and Impact of Dance #Fashion and Cultural Textiles
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/21528586.2026.2618096
openalex publication_date 2026/01/02 · openalex created_date 2026/03/06 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/15
Given that the cishetero-identifying body signifies corporal, gendered, and sexualized features (i.e. an able-bodied and heterosexual male or female body), disabled genders and sexualities (e.g. queer disabled men) often remain invisible and excluded to the dominant body (i.e. the able-bodied, catheter body). This paper aimed to explore how cisheteronormativity plays a role in the performances of visually impaired men and women (i.e. those with low to complete vision loss). A total of 13 (8 female and 5 male) visually impaired individuals with heterosexual and 2 queer identities were conveniently sampled and interviewed individually. Intersectionality and performativity theory underpinned this study, while the data generated were analysed thematically. To trouble notions of normalcy (i.e. falling outside the norm of the able body), all the visually impaired individuals problematized the over-depictions of able-bondedness (i.e. that the custody is always an able-bodied body), resulting in hyper-ableism (i.e. the need to over-perform to be equal). To trouble notions of normative sexualities and desires, the heterosexual-identifying visually impaired men and women felt the need to bolster their sexual desirability via hyper-femininity and -masculinity (i.e. that the disabled body can be sexual too). While the queer disabled men expressed the need to increase their visibility in an already minority group (i.e. that the disabled body is not genderless or always heterosexual), the paper argues for the need to unmask these intersecting vulnerabilities by revealing the role of cisheteronormativity as contributing to compulsory able-bodiedness, hyper-ableism, and compulsory heterosexuality. Recommendations for awareness, advocacy, and allyship are provided.