Sterilization, intellectual disability, and some ethical and methodological challenges: it shouldn't be a secret

Authors:
STEFANSDOTTIR Guarun, HREINSDOTTIR Eyglo Ebba
Journal article citation:
Ethics and Social Welfare, 7(3), 2013, pp.302-308.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Abingdon

This article discusses the experience of an Icelandic woman with intellectual disabilities who was sterilized and how she has dealt with it. It also reflects on some ethical and methodological issues that arise during inclusive life history research. The article is based on cooperation between two women, Eygló Ebba Hreinsdóttir, who was labelled with intellectual disabilities when she moved to an institution in Iceland in the 1970s, and the researcher Guðrún V. Stefánsdóttir. The article is based on a recorded conversation between Ebba and Gudrun and the work of the Icelandic women's history group in which both participated for three years. Ebba was sterilized when she was 14 years old but didn't know about the sterilization until she was 27. The article describes the deep emotional impact and how she came to terms with it. (Edited publisher abstract)

Subject terms:
women, learning disabilities, sexuality, human rights, life story work, user views;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
Iceland
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1749-6543
ISSN print:
1749-6535

Key to icons

  • Free resource Free resource
  • Journal article Journal article
  • Book Book
  • Digital media Digital media
  • Journal Journal

Give us your feedback

Social Care Online continues to be developed in response to user feedback.

Contact us with your comments and for any problems using the website.

Sign up/login for more

Register/login to access resource links, advanced search and email alerts