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Staff attitudes towards sexuality in relation to gender of people with intellectual disability: a qualitative study
- Authors:
- YOUNG Rhea, GORE Nick, McCARTHY Michelle
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 37(4), December 2012, pp.343-347.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The aim of this study was to examine whether the gender of people with intellectual disability affects the attitudes of staff regarding their sexuality. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 people (7 female, 3 male) who worked directly with adults with intellectual disability in a variety of capacities. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts identified 3 themes: women are perceived as sexually innocent, men as more sexually motivated, and motivations for intimate relationships are perceived to differ between men and women with intellectual disability. The article presents the results with examples from the interviews. The authors report that the study indicates unfavourable attitudes towards sexuality in individuals with intellectual disability that correlate with traditional, restricted gender stereotypes, and suggest that their findings highlight the importance of considering gender when supporting the sexuality of people with intellectual disability.
Responses to women with learning disabilities as they go through the menopause
- Author:
- McCARTHY Michelle
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 7(1), January 2002, pp.4-12.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The research investigated how women with learning disabilities understand and experience the menopause, and the support available. This paper reports the experiences and attitudes of those people to whom women with learning disabilities might turn for support. GPs generally reported re;actively little experience in treating women with learning disabilities for menopause-related symptoms and some recognised the need for pro-active work. Carers played a key role on facilitating women' s access to primary health care. Staff in residential and day services recognised the role they played in supporting women through the menopause, but were hampered by lack of time and resources. Mothers of middle-aged women with learning disabilities and viewed this transition positively. The need for specialist educational materials was emphasised by all who took in this research.
Women with learning disabilities-experiencing their sexuality in a healthy way
- Author:
- McCARTHY Michelle
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 6(1), January 2001, pp.16-21.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Outlines some of the factors which are important in helping or hindering women with learning disabilities to experience their sexuality in a positive and healthy way. Based on direct experience, the article presents the factors which must be present for women with learning disabilities to enjoy their sexuality: making choices, giving consent, receiving information, experiencing mutuality, experiencing pleasure, having self-esteem and having resource to the law if abused. Emphasises how important it is that women with learning disabilities and their supporters understand these factors.
A prevalence study of sexual abuse of adults with intellectual disabilities referred for sex education
- Authors:
- McCARTHY Michelle, THOMPSON David
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 10(2), 1997, pp.105-124.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Reports on a prevalence study of sexual abuse of women and men with intellectual disabilities who were referred for sex education. The prevalence rate of abuse was found to be significantly higher for women than men. Almost all perpetrators were men, with the majority being men with intellectual disabilities or fathers. Women are shown to experience the sexual contact more negatively than the men, although it was usual for both the women and men to feel quite ambivalent about the perpetrator and what he had done to them. Typically the abuse was revealed by the victims themselves, but they were unaware of its social meaning. Generally responses to the abuse were very weak, however there is evidence that the abuse of men is taken more seriously.