Sexual implications of deafness

Fitz-Gerald, Della; Fitz-Gerald, Max

doi:10.1007/bf01101003

Cited by 20 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…Research in this area has focused on a number of areas providing critical insight into the domain of disability, sexuality and reproduction. For instance, notions of sexual identity and self-concept in the context of various types of disabilities have been examined [19][20][21][22][23][24]. What some of these biographical and observational accounts reveal is that although persons with disabilities suffer more negative attitudes to sex than their non-disabled counterparts, their perceived need is considerably higher.…”

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confidence: 99%

How Young People with Disabilities Conceptualize The Body, Sex and Marriage in Urban India: Four Case Studies

Addlakha

2007

Sex Disabil

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Historically in India as elsewhere in the world, there has been a deep-rooted cultural antipathy to persons with disabilities. They have been portrayed as medical anomalies, helpless victims and a lifelong burden for family and society. While today there is a general recognition in India of the need to enhance educational and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in order to promote economic self-reliance and independent living, their sexual needs, dreams and aspirations are more or less invisible. Sexual and reproductive rights are considered irrelevant for persons with disabilities. Using qualitative data, this paper discusses notions of sexual identity among urban Indian youth through four case studies of college students in Delhi. Gender emerges as a key analytical category in perceptions of sexuality among young men and women with visual and locomotor disabilities. The paper does not claim to capture the complex reality of disabled sexuality in India, but highlights some key issues in a hitherto largely under-research domain. But the author's analysis carries added value, since she herself has low vision; thus conferring a reflexive angle to the research. Gender Subjectivity and Sexual IdentityInstead of giving rights to citizens with disabilities and empowering them, a culture of charity and welfare has been systematically promoted in India since the colonial period. The disability discourse has primarily focused on issues related to the medical management, education and employment of persons with disabilities.

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confidence: 99%

How Young People with Disabilities Conceptualize The Body, Sex and Marriage in Urban India: Four Case Studies

Addlakha

2007

Sex Disabil

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“…The research focus of these studies was deaf people as the population and HIV/AIDS as the problem. Experts in this era estimated that the deaf population was about eight years behind the hearing population in terms of HIV/AIDS knowledge and awareness (Fitz-Gerald & Fitz-Gerald, 1979). In the 1990s Peinkofer (1994:390-392) revealed in an important study that large numbers of deaf and hard-of-hearing people were in danger of becoming infected with HIV as a result of language barriers, their unique culture, and the paucity of community services, educational programmes and general information directed to this population.…”

Section: Literature Review International Studies On Hiv/aids and Deafmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiences of Social Exclusion Among Young Deaf Adults Influencing Their Beliefs and Perceptions of Hiv/Aids

Ismail

Henderson

2014

Social Work

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This paper reports on a Master's study whose aim was to capture the beliefs and perceptions of young deaf adults about HIV/AIDS in the Cape Metropole and surrounding areas. The study utilised the explorative, contextual and qualitative descriptive study design. Purposive sampling was implemented and data were collected through focus groups and in-depth interviews. Data were analysed using content analysis. Ethical considerations were adhered to. The main findings of the study indicate that numerous myths and misperceptions about HIV/AIDS prevail among deaf people. This paper advocates for policymakers to include deaf people, particularly sign language users, in HIV-prevention programmes.

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“…Unfortunately, these attempts may not always meet with success and can result in missed or lost communication, misinformation, frustration, and isolation of the Deaf child (Davis, 2007;Woll & Ladd, 2003). As a result, Deaf children born to hearing families often do not acquire sign language, or any first language, until they reach school (Fitz-Gerald & Fitz-Gerald, 1978;Marschark & Spencer, 2010, ch. 4).…”

Section: Deaf Socialisation Experiencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Swartz (1993) reported a gender difference in sex knowledge among American Deaf university students. Meanwhile, Fitz-Gerald and Fitz-Gerald (1978) noted that young Deaf women in the United States were made to feel more concerned with their reputation in school and experienced greater guilt in relation to their behaviours.…”

Section: The Experiences Of Deaf Womenmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Peers have been identified as another source for sexuality socialisation because of their ability to provide information regarding gender-specific roles and expectations as well as opportunities for modelling or comparing behaviours (Treboux & Busch-Rossnagel, 1990). The pivotal role of peers in sexuality socialisation has been identified as even more important for Deaf people, in part because of the difficulties accessing information elsewhere (Fitz-Gerald & Fitz-Gerald, 1978;Swarz, 1993;Joseph et al, 1995Roberts, 2006. However, if Deaf women are in mainstream settings and unable to meaningfully engage with other hearing students, they may not have access to a range of formal and informal exchanges which provide that type of information.…”

Section: Social Construction Of Deaf Women's Sexualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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"Deaf is best": Exploring the sexuality experiences and knowledge of Deaf women in New Zealand

Prior¹

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<p>This study has two primary purposes. Initially, it explores the accounts of sexuality-related experiences and knowledge of a group of Deaf women in New Zealand. The limited international literature available has primarily focused on Deaf sexuality in terms of deficits and vulnerabilities and no work has been carried out on the topic in New Zealand, so relatively little is known about an influential aspect of Deaf women’s lives. The second purpose for this study is to generate recommendations for improving the sexuality information and services available to the women. This study accomplished the two aims by using an action research framework in which Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand, the national organisation for the Deaf, was a collaborative research partner. The seven women who participated in the study were split into two focus groups, one for NZ European/ Pākeha women and one for Asian and Pacific women. The focus groups were conducted in August 2012 at a Deaf club. Also present during the focus groups were a professional New Zealand Sign Language interpreter, a Deaf woman who served as co-facilitator, and myself. In the focus groups, the women discussed their experiences and understanding of concepts with regard to intimate relationships, sexual experiences, and sexuality more generally. Their accounts revealed the potential impact their family’s cultural background, the ability of those around them to communicate through New Zealand Sign Language, and their personal English literacy levels had on their sexuality knowledge and development. Those who had greater access to information and support reported more positive experiences. As a result, recommendations are made for improving information accessibility across the lifespan, with a special emphasis on programming and services provided by Deaf Aotearoa. The recommendations conclude with a description of a programme developed alongside Deaf Aotearoa that addresses some of these areas and which will be implemented with regional groups of Deaf women. As a result, the contributions made by the Deaf women who participated in this project are already demonstrating an impact in programme development.</p>

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Sexual implications of deafness

Cited by 20 publications

References 1 publication

How Young People with Disabilities Conceptualize The Body, Sex and Marriage in Urban India: Four Case Studies

How Young People with Disabilities Conceptualize The Body, Sex and Marriage in Urban India: Four Case Studies

Experiences of Social Exclusion Among Young Deaf Adults Influencing Their Beliefs and Perceptions of Hiv/Aids

"Deaf is best": Exploring the sexuality experiences and knowledge of Deaf women in New Zealand

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