Gendered Rights or Disabled In/Justice? Sex Education for Young Women With Intellectual Disabilities

• In Event: 61.087 - Poster Session 12
  In Poster Session: 61.087-7 - Division E: Human Development Session 1

Abstract

Sexuality, though a basic human right and social justice issue, continues to be an area of little research and instruction for youth with disabilities, in particular those with intellectually disabling conditions, and even more young women with intellectual disabilities. This study investigated the effect of participating in a sex education curriculum on the understanding, choice making, and psychosocial outcomes of eight young women with intellectual disabilities from the critical standpoint of Disability Studies. Critical microethnographic case study approach comprising participant observation, in-depth open-ended individual interviews and document analyses were used for data collection. Findings revealed that young women with disabilities were surprisingly knowledgeable on issues of sex but also a number of unexpected findings emerged.

Authors

• Kagendo Mutua, The University of Alabama

• Amy M. Williamson, The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa

• Robin M. Smith, SUNY - College at New Paltz