An Interview and PhotoVoice Exploration of Sexual Education Provision to Women with Physical Disability and Potential Experiences of Violence
This research explored sexual identity for women with physical disability, both congenital and acquired. It also explored whether exposure to violence or negative risk-taking had played a role in their intimate relationships. This phenomenological research used semi-structured interviews and photo elicitation with the researcher’s insider knowledge adding experiential substance and understanding to the discussion. Findings confirm sexuality for women with physical disability is marginalised and de-gendered making it less of a priority for professionals and policy makers and emphasising the need to more effectively support women with disability in relation to their sexuality, sexual expression and violence.
[1] M. J. Deegan and N. A. Brooks. Women and disability: the double handicap, New Brunswick, N.J., U.S.A. Routledge. 2018.
[2] H. Zitzelsberger. (In) visibility: accounts of embodiment of women with physical disabilities and differences. Disability & Society 20.4: 389-403. 2005
[3] D. Beckwith. #F@!* Off!!! (Unpublished book chapter). Ontario, Canada: Inanna Publications. Submitted for publication.
[4] T. Shakespeare, K. Gillespie-Sells and D. Davies. The sexual politics of disability: untold desires, London: Cassell. 1996
[5] V. K. Kanuha. ‘”Being” native versus “going native”: Conducting social work research as an insider’, National Social Work, Vol. 45, No. 5, 2000.
[6] J. L. Charlton. Nothing about us without us: disability oppression and empowerment, Berkeley (Calif.): University of California Press, 2000, p. 3..
[7] C. C. Wang, S. M. Samuels, P. M. Hutchison, L. Bell, and R. M. Pestronk. Flint Photovoice: Community Building among Youths, Adults, and Policymakers. American Journal of Public Health. Vol. 94, pp. 911-913. 2004.
[8] F. K. Campbell. Contours of ableism: The production of disability and abledness, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. 2009.
[9] L. East and J. Orchard. Somebody Else’s Job: Experiences of Sex Education among Health Professionals, Parents and Adolescents with Physical Disabilities in Southwestern Ontario. Sexuality and Disability, 32(3), pp.335–350. 2014.
[10] J. Swain, S. French, C. Barnes and C. Thomas. Disabling barriers - enabling environments. London. SAGE. 2014.
[11] B. Hattjar. Sexuality and occupational therapy: strategies for persons with disabilities, Bethesda, Md.: AOTA Press, American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. ch. 1. 2012.
[12] T. Dune. Sexuality and Physical Disability: Exploring the Barriers and Solutions in Healthcare. Sexuality and Disability, 30(2), pp.247–255. 2012.
[13] R. Shuttleworth and T. Sanders. Sex & disability: politics, identity and access. Leeds: The Disability Press. 2010.
[14] A. Parsons, L. Reichl and A. Pedersen. Gendered Ableism: Media Representations and Gender Role Beliefs’ Effect on Perceptions of Disability and Sexuality. Sexuality and Disability, vol. 35, no. 2, pp.207–225. 2017
[15] D. Reynolds. Disability and BDSM: Bob Flanagan and the case for sexual rights. Sexuality Research & Social Policy. 4.1: 40. 2007
[16] S. Dutta. "Discrimination generated by the intersection of gender and disability." Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences Vol. 14 (2015): pp. 33-36.
[17] T. Shakespeare. The Sexual Politics of Disabled Masculinity. Sexuality and Disability, 17(1), pp.53–64. 1999.
[18] M. Deal. Disabled people's attitudes toward other impairment groups: a hierarchy of impairments. Disability & Society, 18(7), pp.897–910. 2003.
[19] C. Malacrida. Performing motherhood in a disablist world: dilemmas of motherhood, femininity and disability, International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 99-117. 2009
[20] L. Grue, L & K. T. Lærum. ‘Doing Motherhood': some experiences of mothers with physical disabilities, Disability & Society, vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 671-83. 2002.
[21] A. Lappeteläinen, E. Sevón and T. Vehkakoski. Forbidden option or planned decision? Physically disabled women’s narratives on the choice of motherhood, Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 140-50. 2017.
[22] P. Hill Collins and S. Bilge. Intersectionality. John Wiley & Sons, 2016.
[23] Y. Murphy, V. Hunt, A. M. Zajicek, A. N. Norris and L. Hamilton. Incorporating intersectionality in social work practice, research, policy, and education. NASW Press. 2009.
[1] M. J. Deegan and N. A. Brooks. Women and disability: the double handicap, New Brunswick, N.J., U.S.A. Routledge. 2018.
[2] H. Zitzelsberger. (In) visibility: accounts of embodiment of women with physical disabilities and differences. Disability & Society 20.4: 389-403. 2005
[3] D. Beckwith. #F@!* Off!!! (Unpublished book chapter). Ontario, Canada: Inanna Publications. Submitted for publication.
[4] T. Shakespeare, K. Gillespie-Sells and D. Davies. The sexual politics of disability: untold desires, London: Cassell. 1996
[5] V. K. Kanuha. ‘”Being” native versus “going native”: Conducting social work research as an insider’, National Social Work, Vol. 45, No. 5, 2000.
[6] J. L. Charlton. Nothing about us without us: disability oppression and empowerment, Berkeley (Calif.): University of California Press, 2000, p. 3..
[7] C. C. Wang, S. M. Samuels, P. M. Hutchison, L. Bell, and R. M. Pestronk. Flint Photovoice: Community Building among Youths, Adults, and Policymakers. American Journal of Public Health. Vol. 94, pp. 911-913. 2004.
[8] F. K. Campbell. Contours of ableism: The production of disability and abledness, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. 2009.
[9] L. East and J. Orchard. Somebody Else’s Job: Experiences of Sex Education among Health Professionals, Parents and Adolescents with Physical Disabilities in Southwestern Ontario. Sexuality and Disability, 32(3), pp.335–350. 2014.
[10] J. Swain, S. French, C. Barnes and C. Thomas. Disabling barriers - enabling environments. London. SAGE. 2014.
[11] B. Hattjar. Sexuality and occupational therapy: strategies for persons with disabilities, Bethesda, Md.: AOTA Press, American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. ch. 1. 2012.
[12] T. Dune. Sexuality and Physical Disability: Exploring the Barriers and Solutions in Healthcare. Sexuality and Disability, 30(2), pp.247–255. 2012.
[13] R. Shuttleworth and T. Sanders. Sex & disability: politics, identity and access. Leeds: The Disability Press. 2010.
[14] A. Parsons, L. Reichl and A. Pedersen. Gendered Ableism: Media Representations and Gender Role Beliefs’ Effect on Perceptions of Disability and Sexuality. Sexuality and Disability, vol. 35, no. 2, pp.207–225. 2017
[15] D. Reynolds. Disability and BDSM: Bob Flanagan and the case for sexual rights. Sexuality Research & Social Policy. 4.1: 40. 2007
[16] S. Dutta. "Discrimination generated by the intersection of gender and disability." Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences Vol. 14 (2015): pp. 33-36.
[17] T. Shakespeare. The Sexual Politics of Disabled Masculinity. Sexuality and Disability, 17(1), pp.53–64. 1999.
[18] M. Deal. Disabled people's attitudes toward other impairment groups: a hierarchy of impairments. Disability & Society, 18(7), pp.897–910. 2003.
[19] C. Malacrida. Performing motherhood in a disablist world: dilemmas of motherhood, femininity and disability, International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 99-117. 2009
[20] L. Grue, L & K. T. Lærum. ‘Doing Motherhood': some experiences of mothers with physical disabilities, Disability & Society, vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 671-83. 2002.
[21] A. Lappeteläinen, E. Sevón and T. Vehkakoski. Forbidden option or planned decision? Physically disabled women’s narratives on the choice of motherhood, Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 140-50. 2017.
[22] P. Hill Collins and S. Bilge. Intersectionality. John Wiley & Sons, 2016.
[23] Y. Murphy, V. Hunt, A. M. Zajicek, A. N. Norris and L. Hamilton. Incorporating intersectionality in social work practice, research, policy, and education. NASW Press. 2009.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:79053", author = "D. Beckwith", title = "An Interview and PhotoVoice Exploration of Sexual Education Provision to Women with Physical Disability and Potential Experiences of Violence", abstract = "This research explored sexual identity for women with physical disability, both congenital and acquired. It also explored whether exposure to violence or negative risk-taking had played a role in their intimate relationships. This phenomenological research used semi-structured interviews and photo elicitation with the researcher’s insider knowledge adding experiential substance and understanding to the discussion. Findings confirm sexuality for women with physical disability is marginalised and de-gendered making it less of a priority for professionals and policy makers and emphasising the need to more effectively support women with disability in relation to their sexuality, sexual expression and violence.
", keywords = "Lived-experience, PhotoVoice, sexuality, violence.", volume = "13", number = "8", pages = "1114-6", }
