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Drawing a line between consented and abusive sexual experiences: the complexities for women with learning difficulties
- Author:
- McCARTHY Michelle
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 5(3), September 2003, pp.34-40.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Explores the sexual feelings of women with learning difficulties, highlighting the blurred nature of the boundary between abusive and consented sex. The article is based on formal research that took place with 17 women with learning difficulties. It also draws on the author's work experience with a much larger group of 70-80 women in the context of sex education and counselling, on an individual and group basis.
Development of an abuse screening tool for women with disabilties
- Authors:
- CURRY Mary Ann, POWERS Laurie E., OSCHWALD Mark
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Aggression Maltreatment and Trauma, 8(4), 2003, pp.123-141.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Women with disabilities are at increased risk for violence, including forms of abuse that can be experienced by all women as well as forms unique to women with disabilities, such as abuse by personal assistants. The purpose of this study was to develop an abuse-screening tool unique to women with disabilities. The tool, which was based on previous research, was field-tested with 47 women who experienced physical and/or cognitive disabilities. Final refinement of the tool's wording and formatting was accomplished through focus groups and individual interviews. Women with disabilities were receptive to participating in screening, which facilitated the identification of abuse and risk factors. Recommendations for abuse screening and risk assessment with women who have disabilities are presented. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Women be healthy: evaluation of a women's health curriculum for women with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- LUNSKY Yona, STRAIKO Amy, ARMSTRONG Sharon
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 16(4), December 2003, pp.247-253.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Insufficient attention has been paid towards treating the unique health needs of women with intellectual disabilities. This paper describes an 8-week curriculum, 'Women Be Healthy', developed for women with intellectual disabilities to help them become more equal partners in their health care. The curriculum includes psycho-education, coping skills training, exposure to the medical setting and assertiveness training. Twenty-two women completed assessments of health knowledge, health behaviour beliefs and coping strategies, prior to and following participation in the 8-week curriculum, which took place in a group setting at a clinic for people with intellectual disabilities. Women showed significant improvements in health knowledge, health behaviour beliefs and coping strategies following intervention, and maintained some of these treatment gains (health knowledge and health behaviour beliefs) at a 10-week follow-up. 'Women Be Healthy' is an example of a group-based intervention that helps women with intellectual disabilities become more knowledgeable and perhaps more comfortable with health-care procedures.
Using discourse analysis to study the experiences of women with learning disabilities
- Author:
- SCIOR Katrina
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 18(6), October 2003, pp.779-795.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
There has been a steady rise in interest in qualitative research methods in the area of learning disability over recent years. Discourse analysis has found relatively little use though, particularly in studying the experiences of people with learning disabilities directly, rather than the accounts of non-disabled informants. The present study used a discourse analytic approach in examining the accounts of women with learning disabilities, in order to arrive at an understanding how they position themselves in relation to gender and disability. The results indicate that, while the learning disability literature and services are largely 'gender blind', for women with learning disabilities gender and disability cannot be separated. Instead, they may be faced with marked contradictions and dilemmas when they position themselves within dominant discourses of gender, while also subject to powerful discourses of disability.
Discussing the menopause with women with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- McCARTHY Michelle, MILLARD Lorraine
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 31(1), 2003, pp.9-17.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Traditionally, little attention has been paid to the menopause as it affects women with learning disabilities. Consequently, older women with learning disabilities have rarely been adequately prepared for, or supported through, what for most women is a significant 'change of life'. None of the existing literature focuses on the women's perspectives, but rather, looks at menopause from a medical angle, in particular focusing on the timing of onset. The research study described in the present paper is an attempt to gain some insights into the ways in which women with learning disabilities perceive the menopause. The main informants were women with learning disabilities themselves, but also general practitioners, staff in learning disability services and parents who still cared for their middle-aged daughters at home. The research project also involved the non-disabled researchers working alongside two groups of women with learning disabilities, who acted as advisors and consultants to the project.
Women with visible and invisible disabilities: multiple intersections, multiple issues, multiple therapies
- Editors:
- BANKS Martha E., KASCHAK Ellyn
- Publisher:
- Haworth Press
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 382p.,bibliogs.
- Place of publication:
- Binghamton, NY
This book addresses the issues faced by women with disabilities, examines the social construction of disability, and makes suggestions for the development and modification of culturally relevant therapy to meet the needs of disabled women. Most of the chapters in this book address the concerns of age, ethnicity, size, relationships, sexual orientation, and other social situations that complicate the lives of women with disabilities. Several of the contributing authors address safety concerns and the vulnerability of these women, while others focus on successful coping strategies. Feminist therapists describe the extensions they have made to traditional psychotherapy in order to directly address a wide range of issues faced by their female clients with disabilities.
Mental health and domestic violence: ‘I call it symptoms of abuse’
- Authors:
- HUMPHREYS Cathy, THIARA Ravi
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 33(2), March 2003, pp.209-226.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Research evidence shows a direct link between women's experiences of domestic violence and heightened rates of depression, trauma symptoms, and selfharm. A research project based in Women's Aid outreach services provides further evidence of women's experiences of severe emotional distress. However, their experiences of mental health services were often found to be negative. A number of practices within the medical model of mental health were unhelpful including: the lack of recognition of trauma or provision of trauma services; making the abuser invisible through focusing on the woman's mental health reified from her experiences of abuse; blaming the victim; offering medication rather than counselling support; the negative, consequent effects on child contact and child protection proceedings if the woman is labelled with mental health problems.