First, I agree wholeheartedly with what Andrea is saying here. There's
certainly nothing at all unusual about any individual with a disability(ies)
having a sexuality. The fact that this seems to come as a surprise and raises
a concern with the organization Andrea works only leads me to conclude that
those folks haven't the same understanding of their clients as Andrea does.
So, now my segue into a rather more self-interested academic point. I've done
a fair bit of reading on the history of eugenics in Canada and the U.S., and am
continuing to try to place it in the context of disability history as part of a
dissertation project. As you can imagine, eugenically-minded social reformers
made it one of their goals to kaibosh the reproductive rights (and nearly as
often any sex) of the so-called 'feebleminded' (and other people with
disabilities). They were especially pre-occupied with the belief that female
so-called 'high grade morons', who appeared (again, etc., so-called) 'normal'
were sexually dangerous, since they were hypersexual and were easily seduced by
unscrupulous young men. Their logic supposes an obvious eugenic danger (the
sex-reproduction linkage), but there were also moral concerns not directly
related to reproduction per se - viz, the overall moral integrity of the
community was damaged by all this illegitimate sex that might spill over into
middle class neighbourhoods.
Now, what puzzles me is that although these reformers were extremely concerned
about illegitimate heterosexual sex (again for obviously eugenic reasons) --
they never mentioned (at least the Canadians don't; frankly, I've read less on
the Americans) homosexual sex as a source of moral (but not eugenic) danger.
This seems out of synch since many of their colleagues in other reform circles
were at this time (c. 1910-1950) starting to seize on homosexual sex as moral
vice. Does anyone have any insight on this (I admit) pretty quirky and
specific question?
Quoting Andrea Hollomotz <[log in to unmask]>:
> Hello everyone,
>
> I have been sat back shyly observing the debates held on the Discussion list
> for quite some time now, but Colin Revell and Jenny Parry discussing my
> favourite subject - SEX - this week has finally got me out of reserve. Sex is
> important and sex must be talked about, everywhere and to anyone, the more,
> the better. Sexuality is a fundamental human right and to say that one shall
> not talk about disabled people doing IT is to deny their personhood. This has
> all been said before, but somehow the message did still not get trough to
> some (most(?)) people out there.
>
> In my current job as a social worker for people with learning difficulties,
> the most disempowered group of disabled people who are still spoken ABOUT
> rather than TO when plans about their lives are made (at least in the council
> I work for), I constantly come across issues related to sexuality, but only
> when sexuality is seen as a "problem", an issue that can be dragged to the
> next best "strategy meeting", of which we hold plenty. For all those of you
> who are not familiar with this ridiculous jargon (lucky you!), a "strategy
> meeting" is when ten or so professionals sit around a table and talk ABOUT
> very private issues concerning a third person who is normally not present.
> The outcome is an "adult protection strategy". This way I was part of
> meetings held regarding a couple with learning difficulties who were
> "touching each other inappropriately" in the semi-public space of their
> living room. The assumption was made that he must be abusing her, because
> women are vulnerable. This was ridiculous as the people concerned were
> clearly two consenting adults and the ultimate "solution" to their "deviant
> behaviour" of making the other residents of their home witness their caresses
> would have been to send them to their room, give them a condom and tell them
> to get on with IT.
> ... but this would not have worked, because nobody has ever told them what to
> GET ON WITH! Picking up Colin Revell's point: Sex is everywhere, especially
> within popular culture. So yes, they would get on with SOMETHING, but whether
> this would be the most fulfilling sex for both of them is questionable, if
> all they can base their expectations on is watching people on “Friends”
> having “sex” in their underwear or watching a rape scene in a film and
> thinking that this is the norm, that the man is in charge and that the women
> has no choice and really enjoys pain.
>
> To prevent that kind of sex we must talk about IT. To stop unnecessary
> "strategy meetings" and the invasion of two adult’s privacy, we must
> normalise and talk about IT. To make people aware of disabled people having
> sex, being sexual, being sexy, why not have a porn star in a wheelchair!?! I
> have nothing but respect for Encarna Conde as she is giving her all, namely
> her body for this campaign. I can honestly say that I would not have the guts
> to do this! Go on Encarna!
>
> All the best,
>
> Andrea Hollomotz
>
> PS: Encarna Conde is the “porn star in a wheelchair” Colin was referring to
> in his mail dated 27/06/06. I am sending the link yet again below.
>
> http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1805526,00.html
>
>
> -----------------------------------------
> Email sent from www.ntlworld.com
> Virus-checked using McAfee(R) Software
> Visit www.ntlworld.com/security for more information
>
> ________________End of message______________________
> This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for
> Disability Studies at the University of Leeds
> (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies). Enquiries about the list
> administratione should be sent to [log in to unmask]
> Archives and tools are located at:
> www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
> You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.
>
>
--
Jason Ellis
Ph.D. candidate
Department of History, York University
[log in to unmask]
________________End of message______________________
This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies). Enquiries about the list administratione should be sent to [log in to unmask]
Archives and tools are located at:
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.
|