Analysing the disability- sexuality controversy
Keywords:
Disability, Sexuality, Conceive, ImplementationAbstract
Sexuality is one of the many phenomena which are least openly discussed particularly in the African culture. Sexuality is conceived variously in different cultures and disability is seen as a threat to sexuality in many of the cultures. Meanwhile, sexuality is regarded as a central theme in the development of self-esteem and self-identity since it has been conceived within the bodily perfection and bodily beauty complexes. Thus, the way sexuality is conceived for people with disabilities forms the central thrust of this paper. Views about the sexuality of people with disabilities have manifested in the construction of what we term the disability- sexuality controversy. The paper examines this controversy and explores ways of resolving it in the context of educational programming. The paper concludes that the disability- sexuality controversy is more of a social than a biological construct. This conclusion is premised on the hypothetical view that both disability and sexuality are intimately tied to the concept of self in which case sexuality is constructed within the social realm of the bodily beauty complexes. The way forward is a multi- sectorial approach towards the eradication of disability stereotypes. In addition, the paper recommends active parental involvement in the programming and implementation of sexuality education for their children with disabilities.
References
Ammerman, R.T., Van Hasselt, V.B., Hersen, M., 1987. The handicapped adolescent. In Van Hasselt, V.B., Hersen, M.(Eds). Hand book of Adolescent Psychology. New York :Pergamon Press.
Anderson, E.M., Clarke, L., Spain, B., 1982. Disability in adolescence. London : Methuen.
Ashcraft, C., 2006. Girl you better go get you a condom. Popular culture and teen sexuality as resources for critical multi-cultural curriculum.Teachers’ College Record. 108(1), 2145-86.
Atkinson, R.L., Atkinson, R.C., Smith, E.E., Hilgad, E.R., 1987. Introduction to psychology.(9th Ed.). San-Diego : Harcourt Jovanovich Pub.
Barnes, M.P., Ward, A.B., 2000.Textbook of rehabilitation medicine. New York : Open University Press.
Fullager, S., Owler, K., 1998. Narratives of leisure recreating the self. disability and society. 13(3), 441 – 50.
Furstenberg, F., 2000. The sociology of adolescence and youth in the 1990s : Crit. Commentary. .J. Marriage. Fam., 62(4), 896 – 910.
Goldberg, R.T., 1984. Toward an understanding of the rehabilitation of the disabled adolescent.in marineli, Dell, R.P., Orto, A.E., (Eds). The psychological and social impact of physical disability. New York : Springer Pub. Co.
Hughes, C., 2001. Transition to adulthood supporting young adult to access social, employment and civic pursuits. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Res. Rev. 7(1), 84 – 90.
Irwin, M.M., 1993. Sexuality and people with disabilities. Library access: Services for people with disabilities.3(4).
Jaffe, M.L., 1998. Adolescence. New York : John Wiley and Sons.
Mitchell, W., 1999. Harthing into a Void. Transition to adulthood for young disabled people with complex helath and support needs. New York :Pavillion Pub.
Powers, L.E., Curry, M.A., Oschwald, M., Maley, S., Saxton, M., Eckels, K., 2002. Barriers and strategies in addressing abuse: A survey of disabled women's experiences. J. Rehab. 68(1), 4-13. Ratzka, A., 1998. Sexuality and people with disabilities: what experts are often not aware of. Independent Living institute.org
Sailor, W., Guess, D., 1983. Severely handicapped students : an instructional design. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Sharespeare, T., 2000. Disabled sexuality : towards rights and recognition. sexuality and disability. 18(3), 159 – 66.
Shrey, D.E., Kiefer, J.J., Anthony, W.A., 1984. Sexual adjustment counselling for persons with severe disabilities. A skill based approach for rehabilitation professionals. In Marineli, R.P., Dell, Orto, A.E., (Eds). The psychological and social impact of physical disability. New York : Springer Pub. Co.
Silverman, C., 2009. Sexuality and disability.about.com sexuality. Sitlington, P., 1996. Transition to adult living: the neglected component of transition programming for individuals with learning disabilities. J. Learn. Disabil. 29(1), 31 -9.
Stone, S., 1995. The myth of bodily perfection. Disability and Society. 10(4), 413 – 424.
Taleporos, G., McCabe, M., 2001. Physical disability and sexual esteem. Sexuality and Disability. 19(2), 131-48.
Trost, J.E., 1990. Social support and pressure and their impact on sexual behaviour.In Bancroft, L., Reinsch, J.M., (Eds). Adolescence and Puberty. New York : Open University Press.
Bancroft, J., Reinisch, J.M., (Eds). Adolescence and Puberty. New York : New Open University Press.
UNESCO, 2008. Education for all by 2015 : Will We Make It? Oxford : Oxford University.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2020 Patrick Sibanda
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
