Constructing sexual identities: people with intellectual disability talking about sexuality

Abstract

Accessible summary People with intellectual disability need to be able to talk about the things that are important to them in their lives. This includes talking about their sexuality and the type of relationships they would like to have. A self‐advocacy group did research about this subject with our support. Together we found that sexuality is an important topic for many people with intellectual disability. There are those who would like to have more opportunities to have sexual relationships. Summary This paper presented research undertaken in collaboration with a self‐advocacy group using inclusive research methods and puts forward the views of people with intellectual disability on the topics of sexuality and relationships. The paper presents the perceptions of sexuality of the people with intellectual disability and how these are influenced by social and cultural norms. Using Judith Bulter's concept of performativity, the analysis of the findings shows how some people with intellectual disability accept the sexual norms that are ascribed to them, while others resist them. The paper also shows how the inclusive research process itself enabled the people with intellectual disability who took part to articulate their acceptance or resistance of these norms.

Muted voices: The unexplored sexuality of young persons with learning disability in Malta

“…However, they were even more appalled by the possibility of having to live in an institution when their parents passed away or would no longer be in a position to support them. These opinions were expressed by Mark and Ninu and are consistent with similar findings from research carried out within a Maltese context by Azzopardi Lane and Callus (), Debattista () and Azzopardi Lane (). As also claimed by Callus and Bonello (), the absence of opportunities for supported community living and personal assistant services is one of the major deterrents to the autonomy of persons with learning disability in Malta.…”

“…Although the barriers described in these findings are mostly related to social relationships, they provide the fundamental reasons why persons with learning disability lack possibilities to explore their sexuality and establish romantic relationships. The socio‐cultural tendency to both infantilise and desexualise persons with learning disability resonated in the participants' experiences as it did in related research carried out in the same context by Azzopardi Lane and Callus (), Debattista (), Azzopardi Lane () and Callus and Bonello (). The overprotection and the absence of possibilities to socialise, experienced by young persons with learning disability, lead to limited opportunities to be in social spheres and spaces from which to launch and develop specialties.…”

“…However, it is not a finding which is exclusive to this research. Several studies carried out in this context and others have reported an excessive amount of sheltering of persons with learning disability, often by parents, guardians and service providers (Azzopardi Lane & Callus, ; Callus & Bonello, ; Clark & O’toole, ; Debattista, ; Isler, Tas, Beytut, & Conk, ). In many instances, the overprotection described took the form of infantalisation, where participants reported that they were treated not as young adults but as children.…”

“…Thus, the latter have to overcome additional significant barriers, including the perception of them being asexual, as their right to sexual expression is frowned upon (Azzopardi, ; Azzopardi Lane & Callus, ; Callus & Bonello, ; Debattista, ). Furthermore, traditional ways of looking at sexuality in Malta inadvertently carry cultural and religious implications that inhibits discussion about sexual exploration and creates a taboo around the subject (Azzopardi Lane & Callus, ; Debattista, ). In such a cultural context, sex has a tendency to be seen within a framework of marriage and procreation, events persons with learning disability are particularly not expected or encouraged to experience (Azzopardi, ; Burke et al, ), but that however, as seen through these findings, seem to be the pinnacle of the aspirations for some of them.…”

Understanding the Risk of Sexual Abuse for Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities from an Ecological Framework

“…Individuals with IDD have experienced a long history of sexual repression ranging from physical punishment for expressions of sexuality to being denied access to the supports needed to carry out their sex lives (Gomez, ). There has been a persistent denial by individuals without disabilities that those with IDD experience sexual maturity and develop sexual identities (Azzopardi‐Lane & Callus, ). There is a complex intersection with cultural beliefs that perpetuate sexual violence and cultural beliefs that stigmatize the sexuality of individuals with IDD (Campbell, ).…”