Philippa Willitts

Devoted: a Feminist Analysis of Disability Fetishism Philippa Willitts

Disabled women face double discrimination, and objectification by disability fetishists can tell us a lot about not just the sexualisation of women in mainstream society, but also what the attitudes of these "devotees" can tell us about societal stereotypes of disability. This essay looks critically at devoteeism, while examining what these fetishes communicate about the oppressions faced by disabled people and women. Most analysis of this issue has come from either a feminist or a disability rights perspective: this book combines the two and scrutinises the issue of disability fetishism from the point of view of a feminist who is disabled. I discuss intrusive behaviour and actions on the part of fetishists, whether criticising disability fetishism is the same as saying that disabled people can't be sexually attractive, and what feminists and disability activists need to do to contribute to the liberation of disabled women.