A masculine perspective of gendered topics in the research literature on males and females with intellectual disability

Sexual experiences and knowledge of people with moderate intellectual disability

BACKGROUND

This study addresses the sexuality of people with moderate intellectual disabilities (PMID), a topic that has been little studied. Understanding romantic and sexual experiences is highly relevant for reducing stigma and prejudice related to their sexuality. Additionally, comprehending the level of sexual knowledge of PMID contributes to the development of preventive and sexual health education programmes tailored for this group. Our aim is to explore the sexual history (relationships, sexual behaviour, condom use and sexual abuse), sex education received and the level of sexual knowledge of PMID.

METHOD

The total of 142 PMID completed questionnaires about sexual knowledge and experiences, and their support staff provided additional information. Data were analysed using chi-square test (χ2) and descriptive statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Masturbation was the most common sexual behaviour (75.7%), especially among men (χ2 = 5.81, P < 0.05). Sexual intercourse was rare, and only 30.5% reported using condoms. Women reported a higher prevalence of self-reported sexual abuse (27.3% vs. 6% in men). The study also highlighted misconceptions about sexual intercourse risks and contraceptive methods.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that PMID need sexual education to ensure healthy sexual experiences and prevent risky behaviour.

'People with intellectual disabilities living in the communities is bad enough let alone…having sex': Exploring societal influence on social care workers' attitudes, beliefs and behaviours towards support for personal and sexual relationship needs

BACKGROUND

Services have a duty to uphold the personal and sexual relationship (P&SR) rights of adults with intellectual disability. However, little is known about how social care workers' (SCWs) perceptions of public views of intellectual disability and sexuality might affect their attitudes, believes and behaviours towards supporting P&SR needs. This exploratory study addresses this gap in knowledge.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Qualitative interviews using critical incident technique were conducted with 18 SCWs. Data were transcribed and thematically analysed.

RESULTS

Four dominant themes were identified; socio-cultural, practice-policy gaps, fear and safety needs. These highlights how perceptions of public attitudes impact on SCWs' attitudes towards supporting development of P&SR both directly and through perceptions of organisational policies. This leads to prioritisation of safety needs over support for P&SR.

CONCLUSIONS

Public expectations strongly influenced SCWs' interpretation of organisational policy, emphasising a need for practice-based support to manage public expectations and reduce fear.

Exploring Parental Perceptions and Concerns About Sexuality and Reproductive Health of Their Child With Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) in Mumbai

In India, sexuality is defined by society, which considers it as a taboo and is usually restricted to sex and related issues like sexual abuse, safe sex, unwanted pregnancy, etc. For a person with disability, sexual desires and wish for parenthood are considered as uncommon. Persons with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) are characterized by subnormal intelligence, which may partially or totally restrict the person's ability to perform day-to-day activities and take life decisions. Thus, perceptions of primary caregivers, who take decisions on behalf of the person with IDD, have an important role in their life. The aim of the study is to understand parents' perceptions and concerns about the sexuality and reproductive health of their child with an IDD. The study adopted a qualitative methodology wherein 14 primary caregivers of individuals with IDD belonging to different socio-economic and demographic backgrounds were interviewed in Mumbai. The common perceptions were that puberty is expected, sexual behavior is unexpected, and there is a hope for cure. The reaction to puberty onset appeared to vary with the gender of the child. Puberty onset was often seen as an enabling factor for marriage especially among parents of female child. Marriage and/or childbirth was perceived as a possible cure for IDD by some parents. The dominant parental concerns were found to be safety, early onset of puberty, perception of child's action by others, and concerns about the child's family life. These concerns were also found to vary with the gender of the child, type of disability, and the socio-economic status of the family. Some of the perceptions about sexuality were shaped by the primary caregivers' concern for the individual with IDD.

A narrative review of the literature about people with intellectual disability who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or questioning

This narrative review of the research literature presents a summary about the key issues facing people with intellectual disability (ID) who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or questioning (LGBTIQ). The aim of this review was to consolidate research of the topic; to identify whether any pilot studies reporting social/sexual/educational interventions had been published; and to offer some perspective on the type of future research required to better inform policy, practice and theory that may lead to better outcomes for people with ID who identify as LGBTIQ. Almost all of the research literature on the topic is either exploratory or descriptive which serves to outline the range of issues faced by people with ID who identify as LGBTIQ. Urgently needed as the next step, however, is a concerted effort to conduct a range of innovative educational and social interventions with collection of targeted and appropriate outcomes data.

Men living with long-term conditions: exploring gender and improving social care

Disabled men have traditionally been seen as incomplete men or as entirely gender-less. Research which has looked at the intersection of disability and male gender has largely treated disabled men as a homogeneous group with little reference to, for example, impairment-related differences. The ongoing move towards self-directed, personalised social care in England suggests that support needs relating to gender may be taken more seriously. A qualitative study with 20 men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in England in 2013 explored the men's experiences of the organisation and delivery of social care as it pertained to their sense of being men. Our main finding was that social care in its broadest sense did little to support a positive sense of masculinity or male gender. More often than not the organisation and delivery of social care people de-gendered or emasculated many of the men who took part in the study. Our paper speaks to the need to explore impairment-specific issues for disabled men; to deliver a more person-centred approach to social care which recognises the importance of the social and sexual lives of disabled men; and to create ways in which men can support and empower each other to assert essential human rights relating to independence, dignity and liberty.

British Attitudes Towards Sexuality in Men and Women with Intellectual Disabilities: A Comparison Between White Westerners and South Asians

Although sexuality is a fundamental aspect of human existence, public attitudes towards the sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities may vary. In particular, different ethnic communities may have different perspectives. These differing perspectives may impact on the opportunities and support available for people with intellectual disabilities to express sexuality within 'normalized' life experiences. Despite the South Asian population being one of the largest minority ethnic groups residing within the UK, few studies have aimed to understand how South Asian attitudes towards the sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities may differ from White Western perspectives. This study used an online questionnaire to investigate public attitudes towards the sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities within a UK sample (n = 331). Attitudes between people from White Western (n = 184) and South Asian backgrounds (n = 147) were compared with the use of five scales measuring attitudes towards sexuality. Whilst overall attitudes appeared to be generally positive, South Asian participants were found to have significantly more negative attitudes towards the sexual control and sexual rights of people with intellectual disabilities compared to White Westerners. These differences remained significant even after factors known to influence such attitudes were taken into consideration. These findings implicate the need to develop culturally sensitive interventions to improve knowledge and awareness of sexual needs of people with intellectual disabilities. This paper discusses these implications further, the limitations of the present study and suggested directions for future research.

From diminished men to conditionally masculine: sexuality and Australian men and adolescent boys with intellectual disability

Men and boys with intellectual disability represent a unique group who have hitherto been overlooked by researchers and theorists exploring men and masculinities. Qualitative data from an Australian ethnographic study focused on the sexual health needs of men and adolescent boys with moderate to profound intellectual disability. Findings suggest that masculinity for this group of men is more a biopsychosocial phenomenon than a social construct organised around heteronormative ideals. The conditional masculinity of the men participating in the study was based instead on a number of intrinsic and external factors, which are described in detail.

Masculinity theory in applied research with men and boys with intellectual disability

Researchers in intellectual disability have had limited theoretical engagement with mainstream theories of masculinity. In this article, the authors consider what mainstream theories of masculinity may offer to applied research on, and hence to therapeutic interventions with, men and boys with intellectual disability. An example from one research project that explored male sexual health illustrates how using masculinity theory provided greater insight into gendered data. Finally, we discuss the following five topics to illustrate how researchers might use theories of masculinity: (a) fathering, (b) male physical expression, (c) sexual expression, (d) men's health, and (e) underweight and obesity. Theories of masculinity offer an additional framework to analyze and conceptualize gendered data; we challenge researchers to engage with this body of work.