Disability marriage statistics show that one in four married couples has a disabled spouse. This figure is somewhat surprising given that disabled people are often considered capable of providing for themselves and are considered potential partners by society. But the data show that despite these limitations, many couples with disabled partners marry. This is despite social barriers and legal restrictions.
One reason for this difference in marriage statistics is the gender gap in disability. The gap was wider for women than for men. In fact, the sawmill industry, which was responsible for a growing demand for male labor, also created a surplus of male labor, which benefited women’s marriages. Another explanation for this gender gap is gendered expectations.
The number of married couples with disabilities is not high compared to those without disabilities. This is a problem because disabled couples are less likely to get married than their non-disabled counterparts. However, a study of the U.S. National Health Interview Survey data between 1997 and 2013 found that people with disabilities were less likely to marry than their non-disabled counterparts.
Disabilities were once regarded as a disadvantaged group due to their limited ability to hear. They tended to marry at a later age than their hearing counterparts, and they were less likely to rise the social ladder than their hearing counterparts.