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Content note: contains reference to gender and sexual based harassment and violence.
This International Women’s Day , Powerd is shining a spotlight on some remarkable women with disabilities who have made a positive impact across their chosen fields of interest.
This young woman is a policy professional and lawyer passionate about improving gender equality as well as human and disability rights in Australia.
Sophie Cusworth is the CEO of Women with Disabilities Australia, the peak advocacy body for the rights of women, girls and gender-diverse people with disabilities.
Speaking with Powerd, Ms Cusworth recalls what it was like to grow up as a child with undiagnosed autism and ADHD.
“ I was chronically shy when I was a kid...I would speak in whispers. I was incredibly anxious. I always felt really different. I could see everyone around me, but I couldn't reach them. I just felt like I was behind a bit of a barrier or behind a window pain,” she says.
When Ms Cusworth received her diagnosis at 27, she claims it was a transformative and revolutionary experience.
It just made sense of my whole life…and I think that was the impression my family had as well, they were not surprised…having the autism diagnosis and understanding the ways in which I see relationships differently, or I socialise differently or I experience empathy and connection differently, really made sense of that.
Sophie Cusworth
“Like many other neurodivergent teenagers, I also had a strong attachment with some of my teachers at school. I remember my English teacher had such an influence on me…she introduced me to feminism and feminist theory, and that really sparked a passion for me.”
When asked what led the disability advocate to study law at university, Ms Cusworth revealed that her own experience of sexual and gender based harassment had instilled in her the desire to create impactful change in the community.
“I can remember the first time I made a police report actually about a man following me and engaging in sexual activities. I was a kid, it was terrifying…I really felt the profound impact of gender based violence and violence against women from an early age,” Ms Cusworth explains.
But I was really motivated by social justice, by what I felt was right and ethical, and really saw myself becoming a lawyer and an advocate, particularly working in the human rights space because of that…understanding the intersections of feminist theory and gender and law really stood out to me.
Sophie Cusworth
It was while at law school that Ms Cusworth first encountered the phrase ‘forced sterilisation.’
“It's such a horrific practice that has been recognised by the United Nations treaty monitoring bodies as a form of torture and a form of gender-based violence. You're in an environment that sees the law as benevolent, protecting people's best interests and protecting against harm…realistically, that's just not the case for many of our experiences as women with disabilities,” the CEO explains.
People are really shocked to find out that forced sterilisation is still lawful and that it's still happening…it’s additionally terrifying that we don't have this as part of our conversation and a shared knowledge that this is happening
Sophie Cusworth
The women’s rights advocate believes that while there's been progress made in the feminist movement, the disability community have been left behind in the area of sexual and reproductive rights.
“Things haven’t gone backwards for many women with disabilities because so many people are denied their sexual and reproductive rights every day…it hasn't had the chance to go backwards because we never made the progress,” Ms Cusworth claims.
“For many people in the disability community…there is a sheer and violent assumption that a person shouldn't have children or won't want to, or won't be capable of having children. It's incredibly challenging…to just wrap your head around this denial of choice and control in your sexual and reproductive health care in the many ways that it manifests for us.”
On a positive note, the Women with Disabilities CEO says the most rewarding element of her job is “the ability to impact change at a policy level,” when advocating for women with disability.
I work at a member-based organisation, and the ability to go into a public forum or a government meeting and to say, ‘this is what our community is talking about. These are the various concerns around our community’ is really rewarding. And I think being able to see changes, when you do see those changes, it's incredibly exciting.
Sophie Cusworth
If you would like to learn more about Women with Disabilities Australia click here.
If you liked this story, keep an eye out for more of our coverage of trailblazing women this week in the lead up to International Women’s Day.