Prethodno priopćenje
https://doi.org/10.29162/ANAFORA.v13i1.10
A Journey of Resilience: Disability Experiences in Abhishek Annica’s The Grammar of My Body
Sujata Patel
orcid.org/0009-0001-2204-5459
; Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Bihar, India
Smriti Singh
orcid.org/0000-0002-1829-5906
; Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Bihar, India
Sažetak
The representation of disability in literature has often perpetuated stereotypes, marginalizing individuals with disabilities and reinforcing societal misconceptions. This marginalization is particularly noticeable in narratives preceding the Disability Activist Movement, where characters with disabilities were frequently depicted as objects of pity, tragedy, or even villainy, serving primarily as foils to non-disabled protagonists. Such portrayals not only contributed to harmful stereotypes but also marginalized disabled voices and their experiences. In response to such representations, life writing emerges as a powerful means for marginalized voices to reclaim their narratives. This paper explores the transformative power of life writing, focusing on Abhishek Annica’s memoir The Grammar of My Body (2023) as a counter-narrative to the negative representations of disability in literature. The memoir portrays the complexities of disabled life in India, shedding light on social, cultural, and institutional barriers faced by individuals with disabilities. Drawing on McRuer’s theory of “compulsory able-bodiedness,” this paper examines how societal norms not only uphold but also enforce the notion of “able” and “normal” bodies, positioning deviations from this norm as deviant and contributing to the marginalization of individuals with disabilities. By analyzing Annica’s memoir, this study underscores the role of life writing in challenging ableist narratives and advocating for inclusivity and social change.
Ključne riječi
Abhishek Annica, The Grammar of My Body, disability, life writing, able-bodiedness, stigma, normalcy
Hrčak ID:
348119
URI
Datum izdavanja:
19.6.2026.
Posjeta: 0 *