Title: Sexability Trainings: A Solution for Change from the Youth Perspective
1Sexability Trainings A Solution for Change from
the Youth Perspective
- Kara Sheridan
- karasheridan_at_bellsouth.net
- www.karasheridan.com
2Who am I?
- Clinical psychology doctoral candidate
specializing in child/adolescent populations and
people with disabilities. - Researcher, writer, activist
- Active member of the youth movement.
- Member of the reproductive justice movement
building bridges between our community and other
advocates fighting for the rights of oppressed
populations.
3Lets talk about sex
- Taboo for many of us-whether or not we have a
disability. - Sex is presented as
- A sacred act
- A form of recreation
- Something dirty
- Reproductive necessity
- An act of intimate expression
- A biological drive
- Or a primitive, mysterious force.
4The meaning of sex in the lives of people with
disabilities
- It can get complicated when you qualify for more
than one minority identity. - Coming out to others about your disability is,
in part, about holding onto your right to take
care of your own body and maintain a close
connection to it. - I get the feeling people think that because I am
in a chair there is just a blank space down
there. - It has made me creative and adaptable. Many
nondisabled people have very boring sex lives.
Mine is a long ways from boring. Also,
communications in general are better because of
having to communicate about my disability. - Love and work are the cornerstones of
humanness. - Sigmund Freud
5Myths about disability and sexuality (Kaufman,
Silverberg, Odette, 2003)
- People living with disabilities and chronic
illnesses are not sexual. - People with disabilities are not desirable.
- Sex must be spontaneous.
- People with disabilities cant have real sex.
- People with disabilities are pathetic choices for
partners.
6More myths
- 6. People with disabilities have more important
things than sex to worry about. - 7. People with disabilities are not sexually
adventurous. - 8. People with disabilities that have sex are
perverts. - 9. We all get what we deserve and we can always
do more to help ourselves. - 10. People living in institutions shouldnt have
sex.
7Still more myths
- 11. Sex is private.
- 12. People with disabilities dont get sexually
assaulted. - 13. People with disabilities dont need sex
education.
8How prevalent are these myths?
Of the 98 special education teachers and
administrators, the following percentages of
those surveyed believed it was appropriate for.
9The effect of personal values
- Majority felt that people with disabilities
should not be allowed to have children and
sterilization should be encouraged. - These professionals were the teachers and
administrators responsible for administering
sexual education to students with disabilities.
10Theoretically speaking
- Erving Goffmans stigma or labeling theory
- Any attribute or condition held by a group of
people that bars them from full social
acceptance. - Kohlbergs theories on child development explain
that most children learn I am a girl or I am a
boy before learning to see themselves as sexual
people. Children with disabilities often realize
very early that their primary identity is I am
disabled.
11What hinders positive body image and sexual self
esteem?
- Use of braces, crutches, wheelchairs, and other
mobility devices. - Bladder and bowel management programs
- Physical differences from peers
- Overprotection from families
- Limited sensation
- Communication problems
- Difficulty learning
- Mistrust of ones own body
- Diminished gender-role expectations from ones
own society
12Sexability Trainings
- A good sex education program generates
confidence by developing self-understanding,
thereby promoting a better self image. - (Tepper, 2001)
- These consciousness-raising groups can be used as
a teaching method and as a tool to combat the
oppressive forces challenging the quality of life
for people with disabilities. Participants will
examine the relationship between their personal
experiences and larger social institutions. -
13Getting down to business
- How to advertise
- Small non-confrontational groups
- Ideal group size is 6-10 participants, but this
can vary. - The most talkative member of the group tends to
make between 40-60 of the comments and the
second most talkative member makes between
25-30.
- Present group with the goal to change social
norms. This will bring up taboo topics, even
within the topic of sexuality. Your groups will
serve to educate, support, promote self-help, and
empower people with disabilities. - Self disclosure has been linked to higher
learning rates.
14Objectives of Sexability groups
- All members will realize they are sexual beings
regardless of their ability to have intercourse. - All members will develop language skills to
discuss sexuality issues with peers, partners,
and health care providers. - Participants and facilitators can assess their
own attitudes about people with disabilities
while dispelling myths about sexuality and
disability. - Group members will have the opportunity to
practice interpersonal and communication skills.
15Rules for Sexability Groups
- Everyone is as open and honest as they feel
comfortable. - Confidentiality is strictly observed.
- No one is permitted to challenge the validity of
anothers opinion or experience. - All members are equal. There is no hierarchy
based on disability or level of experience. - Each person has an equal opportunity to speak and
time to share their thoughts.
164-I Model(Tepper, 2001)
- Participants will first learn about themselves
then about how they relate to others. - INITIATION Help the group learn the difference
between sex and sexuality. - Example activities
- Make a list of all things you could say after the
words I am. For those not directly related to
sexuality, think about whether they have an
impact on who you are as a sexual being. - Make a list of things that are important to your
sex life. Share one that you are comfortable
sharing.
17Interaction
- The chance to become more involved and learn
about other people with disabilities
perspectives. - Example activities
- Divide in pairs and have partners introduce each
other to the group. - Give true and false questionnaire surveying
individuals beliefs about controversial issues
within disability sexuality.
18Investigation
- Large component of the education component.
Explore myths/history of sexuality among people
with disabilities. Learn TOGETHER about the
realities of our world and this rarely talked
about topic. - Customize the topics of investigation for your
group. Possibilities include Ashley X, forced
sterilization, genetic selection or elimination
of embryos with disabilities, devotees, paying
for sex, and other issues that members will
likely differ in their opinions.
19Internalization
- Can be done in a wrap-up session at the end of
the meeting where the facilitator encourages
participants to think about societal issues and
apply them to their own lives. - Some participants may be interested in more
information. Suggest books, websites,
conferences, and encourage advocacy efforts.
20Potential pitfalls
- The tendency to NOT talk about sex even in a
sexuality discussion group! - Conflicts of personal value systems.
- Breaks in confidentiality
- What other pitfalls do you foresee among your
participants?
21In the end
- Sexability group members should be able to
- Express a basic understanding of sexuality,
anatomy, and physiology, and the possible effects
of specific disabilities on sexuality. - Critically examine messages received from the
media and other sources about body image and
gender roles. - Affirm themselves as sexual beings worthy of
love, relationships, and self-protection. - Negotiate privacy, make dates, and establish
relationships. - Understand their sexual rights and how to
minimize physical and emotional risks of sexual
expression.
22Works Cited
- Baker, D. Snodgrass, J. (1979). Team teaching a
sociology of sex roles seminar Using
consciousness-raising methods. Teaching
Sociology, 6(3), 259-266. - Kaufman, M., Silverberg, C., Odette, F. (2003).
The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability. Cleis
Press San Francisco. - Shuttleworth, R.P. (2007). Disability and
sexuality Toward a constructionist focus on
access and the inclusion of disabled people in
the sexual rights movement In N. Teunis G.
Herdt (Eds.) Sexual Inequalities and Social
Justice. University of California Press
Berkeley. - Tepper, M.S. (2001). Becoming sexually able
Education to help youth with disabilities.
Siecus Report, 29(3), 5-14.
23Works cited (cont.)
- Thomson, R.G. (1997). Extraordinary Bodies
Figuring physical disability in American culture
and literature. Columbia University Press New
York. - Troiden, R.R. (1987). Walking the line The
personal and professional risks of sex education
and research. Teaching Sociology, 15(3),
241-249. - Wolfe, P.S. (1997). The influence of personal
values on issues of sexuality and disability
Research summary. The Canadian Journal of
Human Sexuality, 6(4), 333.