Intersecting Marginalities: A Feminist and Disability Studies Approach to Margaret Laurence's the Stone Angel

Abstract

Most people read The Stone Angel just looking at the feminism stuff, basically seeing Hagar as a really stubborn old lady. But they totally miss the other massive angle here: disability. As Hagar Shipley ages, her physical body breaks down, forcing her to deal with a world that basically treats old, disabled women like helpless children. This paper examines the ways in which feminist concerns and disability intersect throughout Hagar’s narrative. The central argument is that Hagar’s strong resistance to institutionalization cannot be understood merely as an expression of personal pride. It is a desperate, totally valid fight for bodily autonomy. Hagar's experience clearly shows how society strips power away from women the second they become physically dependent. Looking at her sharp brain trapped in a broken body proves Laurence was trying to completely change how society treats old people.