Attitudes Toward Male and Female Sexuality Among Men and Women With Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

Studies comparing the sexual attitudes of men and women with intellectual disabilities (ID) have been limited. A mixed-methods approach was employed to explore attitudes toward sexuality among men and women with ID in Taiwan and to ascertain the disparities between attitudes among men and women with ID. First, fifty-six men and forty-four women with mild and moderate ID completed a face-to-face interview survey. After this, focus groups were conducted for men and women with ID. Results indicated that women with ID were more likely to have negative attitudes toward parenting and non-reproductive sexual behavior than their male counterparts. Qualitative data indicated that men and women with ID had different sexual attitudes and experiences and were subject to different expectations from people around them. Both men and women with ID had very limited opportunities to develop romantic relationships and a healthy sexual identity. Sexual rights awareness and practice should be matters of concern for this group of adults and women with ID in particular.

KEYWORDS:

• gender
• intellectual disability
• sexual attitudes
• sexual rights

Notes

1. Four items were: “Masturbation should be discouraged for women with ID”; “Masturbation in private for women with ID is an acceptable form of sexual expression”; “It is a good idea to ensure privacy at home for women with ID who wish to masturbate”; “Masturbation should be taught to women with ID as an acceptable form of sexual expression in sex education courses.”

2. Two terms for masturbation are used in the society; one is common language and another is used in sexual education.

3. Taiwanese, like Mandarin or Cantonese, is a local dialogue and spoken language; all of these local languages are written in Chinese. Mandarin has become the official language in Taiwan since 1949. Research assistants of this study were fluent in both Taiwanese and Mandarin (representing the majority of the Taiwanese who speak Taiwanese at home and Mandarin in schools and in offices).

4. All participants’ names here are pseudonyms.

5. Women from South Asian countries, such as Vietnam, Thailand, or Cambodia, marry with Taiwanese men who are mostly old veterans, men with disabilities, or from low-income families; thus, these foreign wives (foreign brides) become the primary caregivers of the family, including for young children or older and disabled family members (Yang and Schoonheim 2013).

6. The Taiwan Genetic Health Law, introduced in 1984, states that anyone diagnosed with a genetic disease or mental illness may choose to be sterilized or submit their case to the Eugenic Health Committee for review (Article 10). For people with ID, such decision-making is usually carried out by their parents or spouses instead of themselves (for detail see Chou and Lu 2011).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the National Science Council in Taiwan (NSC100-2314-B-010-062).