ABSTRACT
Part of the research in this book is based on oral history, including qualitative interviews. An effort was made to get to know as many people as possible who knew Bíbí in life and elicit their viewpoints on her and her life. This process in the study offered a fascinating new approach; at the same time, the research history of disability studies in the 20th century was studied. It is safe to say that Bíbí's story is one of the most powerful “counter-narratives” there is, where the failings of medical science are revealed in a very conclusive manner. In addition, Bíbí's autobiography provides insight into the self-image of a person with a disability who lived with discrimination and social exclusion for most of her life – arising not only from her disability but also from her gender and social status. In this context, a feminist intersectional theory was explored to study how these factors intersected in Bíbí's life and influenced her identity, also how she reacted, fought back, and found a meaning to her life. This was done through an analysis of the reception Bíbí met with from her contemporaries, both in life and after her death.
