Relational Narratives and Inclusive Selves: A Feminist Disability-Informed Theory

Drawing on feminist philosophy, disability studies, developmental psychology, and care ethics, the book develops a normative relational theory of selfhood that addresses both the promise and the risks of our narrative dependence on others. This book offers the first feminist and disability-informed account of how identities are co-constructed and how they ought to be shaped. Challenging dominant individualistic theories of the self, Alexandra Romanyshyn argues that many traditional accounts inadvertently exclude people with cognitive disabilities and overlook the lived realities of marginalized groups. Drawing on feminist philosophy, disability studies, developmental psychology, and care ethics, the book develops a normative relational theory of selfhood that addresses both the promise and the risks of our narrative dependence on others. Romanyshyn proposes moral and intellectual virtues that guide ethical identity construction, and she examines how individuals can resist and repair harmful narratives. Interdisciplinary and empirically informed, this monograph offers a compelling framework for understanding flourishing selves in a world shaped by relationships.