Exploring disability, sexuality, and identity in contemporary film: margarita with a straw

Abstract

The film expresses an ideal representation of a woman in a society with all disabilities through the characters Laila, Dhruva and Khanum. The film explores the themes of femininity, identity, and social class, as well as the darker aspects of human nature, to demonstrate the heterogeneous and nuanced nature of the characters. Laila, a disabled woman, faces societal constraints and discrimination because of her disability. Despite the challenges, Laila is a strong and independent character who asserts her personal space and resists the oppressive forces that seek to control her life. The family pushes Laila to be an asexual person due to her disability. The family initially sees her as an asexual person and tries to control her desires and relationships. However, as the film progresses, Laila's mother begins to understand and accept her daughter's identity and emotions. The film challenges the normative expectations around sexuality by portraying the protagonist's bisexuality and her exploration of gender and relationships. Genderqueer identities, which question the rigid binary between male and female, are becoming more and more prevalent in psychology studies and popular culture. On the contrary, little has been discovered about how genderqueer individuals' experiences vary by generation.