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Paper short abstract

In 19th-century Icelandic folklore, mothers of disabled children are often blamed for their children's impairments and seen as odd for protecting them. The paper examines the adversity these mothers face, their responsibilities, care, and resilience amid social, natural, and supernatural challenges.

Paper long abstract

In Icelandic folklore from the 19th century, legends and beliefs, the role of mothers of disabled children is particularly interesting. The cause of the children’s differences is believed to be supernatural, and their impairments are literally taken as a mark by the supernatural. Mothers are encouraged to follow the rules of the supernatural to prevent disabilities. Still, they are scolded for failing to do so or for being ineffective, regardless of the measures they have taken. They are therefore blamed for their children’s impairments and are considered odd for wanting to protect them. According to the folklore, these mothers are also affected by this mark, not physically, but socially. In this paper, I aim to decode the adversity faced by mothers of disabled children in Icelandic folklore due to lore and societal expectations; to reveal hidden attitudes and prejudices they may have encountered because of their children’s supernaturally marked status. At the same time, I aim to shed light on their actions in legends and beliefs, which often demonstrate responsibility, care, and strength in the face of conflicting influences from social, natural, and supernatural forces. To achieve this, I use an interdisciplinary approach that combines folkloristics and disability studies theories from the standpoint of a disabled folklorist, drawing on historical context and a careful reading of the material at hand.