Physical Disability, Gender, and Marriage in Jordanian Society

Abstract

In this article, three physically disabled Jordanian men discuss their perspectives on gender, marriage, family, and disability in Jordanian society. Their words reveal the contradictions with which they live. They refuse to marry disabled women even while they recognize their own stigmatization and oppression. They long for “real women” while absolving themselves of any guilt in the oppression of disabled women. They want wives who can provide the physical assistance they need while facing significant barriers to fulfilling their role as husband, father, and provider.