Mirrored Illusions: Representing Child Disability in Beninese Women’s Literature
Document Type
Presentation
Location
436 Hodges / Zoom Room B
Start Date
28-3-2025 1:45 PM
End Date
28-3-2025 2:05 PM
Description
Fulfilling Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop's "Windows and Mirrors" concept stating that African children with disabilities need to see themselves reflected in literature so that readers from other backgrounds can benefit from understanding this experience, this paper addresses representations of disability in Benin through literature written by Beninese women. In Beninese culture, ‘child witches’ or children born with disabilities are either returned to the afterlife by decision of family councils or might be seen as signs of possessing special powers or being chosen for a particular role in the community. Social representations of disability in Benin may be attributed to curses, transgressions by ancestors, or witchcraft, leading to stigma and blame placed on the child or family. Because children are seen as crucial for carrying on the family lineage and providing support in old age, a disabled child may be perceived as a burden on the family and might face exclusion or death. In Sophie Adonon’s short story “Illusion dermique" (2018), young female character Awa Boukari is albino and suffers the same fate by being killed by her father, Adama. In Elena Miro K’s bilingual children’s book “The Mirror” (2018), middle-schooler Ayana, born with no arms, is gifted a mystery mirror with magical properties from an old woman. The text reflects self-esteem, given this mirror has the ability to talk, and Ayana is hailed a hero after saving her bully from a fire. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has influenced Benin's policies to promote inclusion and respect for children with disabilities, and local grassroots efforts are working to raise awareness and advocate for the rights of children with disabilities. Fémicriture literature can be a tool to challenge stigma and promote inclusion by depicting disability as a lens to explore broader social issues in Africa, and these stories show that disability in Benin is a complex and challenging experience, where misconceptions can lead to marginalization, leaving children as potential targets of attacks due to false beliefs about the power of their bodies.
Mirrored Illusions: Representing Child Disability in Beninese Women’s Literature
436 Hodges / Zoom Room B
Fulfilling Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop's "Windows and Mirrors" concept stating that African children with disabilities need to see themselves reflected in literature so that readers from other backgrounds can benefit from understanding this experience, this paper addresses representations of disability in Benin through literature written by Beninese women. In Beninese culture, ‘child witches’ or children born with disabilities are either returned to the afterlife by decision of family councils or might be seen as signs of possessing special powers or being chosen for a particular role in the community. Social representations of disability in Benin may be attributed to curses, transgressions by ancestors, or witchcraft, leading to stigma and blame placed on the child or family. Because children are seen as crucial for carrying on the family lineage and providing support in old age, a disabled child may be perceived as a burden on the family and might face exclusion or death. In Sophie Adonon’s short story “Illusion dermique" (2018), young female character Awa Boukari is albino and suffers the same fate by being killed by her father, Adama. In Elena Miro K’s bilingual children’s book “The Mirror” (2018), middle-schooler Ayana, born with no arms, is gifted a mystery mirror with magical properties from an old woman. The text reflects self-esteem, given this mirror has the ability to talk, and Ayana is hailed a hero after saving her bully from a fire. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has influenced Benin's policies to promote inclusion and respect for children with disabilities, and local grassroots efforts are working to raise awareness and advocate for the rights of children with disabilities. Fémicriture literature can be a tool to challenge stigma and promote inclusion by depicting disability as a lens to explore broader social issues in Africa, and these stories show that disability in Benin is a complex and challenging experience, where misconceptions can lead to marginalization, leaving children as potential targets of attacks due to false beliefs about the power of their bodies.