Sexuality and physically disabled women

Abstract

The origins of the title hereby proposed originated from a class discussion which retro-fleeted upon an intrinsic preconceived inquiry; that is, an intellectual journey leading to illumination the lived experience of women with a range of physically limiting conditions; and their perception of sexuality. As a topic rarely explored in research, but pervasively experienced by many, this study is not intended to exhaust research but to give voice to eight women and their personal meaning in relation to socially structured taboos, differences and inequalities. Drawing from the author's research and supported by extracts from semi structure interviews; recommendations will suggest that it is imperative to recognize such marginalization and social victimisation. At a glance findings also illustrate that although all woman in the study triumph in a regular professional life, they still face considerable barriers living a healthy sexual lifestyle which indirectly deprive them from participating in public like. Thus, age, education and occupation in such situations seem not always to be culprits and the true causes are being overlooked. The intention of this study is thus to use a phenomenological approach to attribute, to make inferences, to look at the causes and effects of the intersection between disability and sexuality in women and to reaffirm if the effects of social taboos in the subject are true or myth. According to Oliver, ''To be truly free we have to live in a truly free society.'' (Oliver, 1996, p.205)