Abstract
The negative attitudes that exist regarding sexuality in women with disabilities are discussed. The major justifications given for such attitudes seem to run contrary to social justice principles and, in fact, invariably have severe health implications for such women. It is concluded that women with disabilities need to be wary of aligning themselves exclusively with either the women's movement or the disability movement as either option could lead to forced and disempowering compromises and consequences.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alp, A. et al. (1988),Sex and a Spinal Cord Injury. London: Austin Hospital Spinal Injuries Unit.
Asaka, J. (1994), Disability, Women and Love.Newsletter for Women with Disabilities Australia, No. 7:6–8.
Azzopardi, S. (1993), Sexual abuse and people with physical disabilities.On the Level, 2(2), June: 7–10.
Batterham, G. (1993), Crutch Power.On the Level, 2(2), June: 3–6.
Becker, E. F. (1978),Female Sexuality Following Spinal Cord Injury. Bloomington, Ill: Cheever Publ.
Begum, N. (1992), Disabled Women and the Feminist Agenda.Feminist Review 40, Spring; 70–83.
Bogle, J. E. & S. L. Shaul (1981), Body image and the woman with a disability.Sexual and Physical Disability: Personal Perspectives, St. Louis, Mo: Mosby.
Boylan, E. (1991),Women and Disability, London: Zed Books Ltd.
Boyle, G. et al (1988), Women and Disabilities: A National Forum.Entourage, 7(2), 9–14.
Bramley, J. et al (1993), Friendships and Feelings.Youth Studies Australia, 12(1): 28–34.
Cain, P. (1994), Lets Put our Effort Behind our Values and Beliefs….NATLINK, 8(3), August, 4–9.
Campbell, F. (1984), Access to Community Health Care Services for Women with Disabilities.Australian Disability Review, no. 1: 30–33.
Campling, J. (1981),Images of Ourselves: Women with Disabilities Talking. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Chenoweth, L. (1993), Invisible Acts: Violence Against Women with Disabilities.Australian Disability Review, 2: 22–28.
Cooper, M. (1991), Women- and disability.Polio Papers 1991. Hawthorn, Vic: Australian Polio Network: 6–10.
Crisp, R. (1989), The Portrayal of women with Spinal Cord Injuries in Recent Rehabilitation Literature.Australian Disability Review 1(1): 7–11.
Cullen, I. (1993), Don't Fence Me In.Lesbians on the Loose, 4(9), October: 20.
Deegan, M. J. & N. A. Brooks (1985),Women and Disability: The Double Handicap. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Books, Rutgers University.
Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet. Office of the Status of Women (1988).A Say, A Choice, A Fair Go: The Government's National Agenda for Women. Canberra; AGPS: 45–47.
Disabled Girls Sterilised ‘For No Reason’,The Age, 4 August 1991: 7.
Drench, M. E. (1992), Impact of Altered Sexuality and Sexual Function in Spinal Cord Injury: A Review.Sexuality and Disability, 10(1), 3–14.
Duffy, Y. (1983),All Things are Possible. Ann Arbor, Michigan: A: J. Garvin & Associates.
Eisenberg, M. G. & L. C. Rustad (1984),Sex and the Spinal Cord Injured: Some Questions and Answers. Cleveland, Ohio: Medical Centre.
Farmer, G. (1988), Male sexuality in an Institution.ACROD Newsletter, July, 7–8.
Fetherston, J. (1992), I lost my sex.Women's Day, 27 April, 34.
Fife-Yeomans, J. (1992), Cecilia's lost sex life not worth a cent.Sydney Morning Hearald, 29 Feb., 14.
Fine, M. & A. Asch (1988),women with Disabilities: Essays in Psychology, Culture and Politics. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
Finger, A. (1985), Claiming All of Our Bodies: Reproductive Rights and Disability.Test Tube Women: What Future for Motherhood? London: Pandora Press.
Finger, A. (1992), Forbidden Fruit.New Internationalist, no. 233, July: 8–10.
Finger, A. (1991),Past Due: A Story of Disability, Pregnancy and Birth. Seattle: Seal Press.
Finger, A. (1985), Reproductive Rights and Disability.With the Power of Each Breath: A Disabled Women's Anthology, Pittsburgh Cleis.
Hahn, H. (1981), The Social Component of Sexuality and Disability: Some Problems and Proposals.Sexuality and Disability, 4: 220–233.
Hanna, W. J. & B. Rogovsky (1991), Women with Disabilities: Two Handicaps Plus.Disability, Handicap and Society, 6 (1): 49–63.
Heumann, J. (1990), How Women with Disabilities Can Advance into the Mainstream of Society.Australian Disability Review, 3–91: 65–90.
Hume, J. (1990), Women with Disabilities: How Far Have We Come?Australian Disability Review, 2–90: 17–20.
Hutchison, P. (1992), Double Jeopardy: Women with Disabilities Speak Out About Community and Relationships.Entourage, 7 (2): 16–18.
Keller, S. & D. C. Buchanan (1984), Sexuality and disability.AID, October: 41, 43, 45, 47.
Keith, L. (1994),Mustn't Grumble: Writings by Disabled Women. London: Women's Press.
Kroll, K. & E. L. Klein (1992),Enabling Romance: A Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships for the Disabled (and the People who Care about Them). New York: Harmony Books.
Landis, C. & M. Bolles (1980),Personality and Sexuality of the Physically Handicapped Woman. New York: Arno.
Lawrence, A. (1989),I Always Wanted to be a Tap Dancer. Sydney: N.S.W. Women's Advisory Council.
Lloyd, M. (1992), Does She Boil Eggs?: Towards a Feminist Model of Disability.Disability, Handicap, and Society, 7 (3): 207–221.
Lonsdale, S. (1990),Women and Disability: The Experience of Physical Disability Among Women. London: Macmillan Education Ltd.
McPherson, C. (1991), Violence Against Women with Disabilities: Out of Sight, out of Mind.Canadian Women Studies, 11 (4): 49–50.
Matthews, G. F. (1983), Lovers and other Strangers.Voices from the Shadows: Women with Disabilities Speak Out. Toronto, Canada: Women's Educational Press: 62–91.
Meekosha, H. (1990), Is Feminism Able Bodies?: Reflections from the Trenches.Refractory Girl, no. 36, August: 34–42.
Miller, V. (1985), Despite this Flesh: The Disabled in Stories and Poems. Austin: University of Texas Press, August, 4–9.
Montague, M. (1993),Private Lives?: An Initial Investigation of Privacy and Disability Issues: a discussion paper. Canberra: Office of the Public Advocate.
Montgomery, B. & L. Morris (1987), Sexuality and disabled people.You and Sex. Vic., Melbourne: Nelson: 200–216 (chap. 11).
Mooney, T. O. et al. (1975),Sexual Options for Paraplegics and Quadriplegics, Boston: Little, Brown & Co.
Morris, J. (1991),Pride Against Prejudice: Transforming Attitudes to Disability. London: Women's Press.
Morris, J. (1989), Sexuality and Relationships.Able Lives: Women's Experience of Paralysis, London: Women's Press.
O'Toole, C. J. & J. L. Bregante (1992), Lesbians with Disabilities.Sexuality and Disability, 10(3): 163–172.
Palmer, D. & C. Woodcraft-Lee (1990), Women of the Shadow Universe: The Relationship Between Gender and Disability and its Affects on the Lives of Women with Disabilities: a preliminary survey.National women's Conference: Proceedings: 323–335.
Pane, L. G. (1993), A Triple [Dis]Advantage: Women with Disabilities from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds.Australian Disability Review, 3–93: 57–65.
Perduta-Fulginiti, P. S. (1992), Sexual functioning of women with complete Spinal Cord Injury: Nursing Implications.Sexuality and Disability, 10(2): 103–118.
Rabin, B. J. (1980),The Sensuous Wheeler: Sexual Adjustment for the Spinal Cord Injury. San Francisco: Multi Media Resource Centre.
Rebinault, I. P. (1978),Sex, Society and the Disabled: A Developmental Inquiry into Roles, Reactions and Responsibilities. New York: Harper & Row.
Rogers, L. (1982), Body image and the dichotomies of sexand gender.Social Biology Resources Centre Bulletin, 6(2), Dec.: 2–3.
Romano, M. (1973), Sexuality and the disabled female.Accent of Living, Winter: 26–34.
Sandowski, C. L. (1980), Sexuality and the paraplegic.Quad Wrangle, Jan: 25–33.
Sargeant, D. (1992), Sexual Health in Persons with Acquired Brain Damage.Think, March/April: 19–20.
Saxton, M. & F. Howe (1988),With Wings: An Anthology of Literature by Women with Disabilities. London: Virago Press.
Seattle Rape Relief (1985),Choices: Sexual Assault Prevention for Persons with Disabilities. Seattle: Seattle Rape Relief.
Smith, B. (1991),Self-Protection for Young Women with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, Tasmania: Australian Association of Special Education.
Smith, V. (1993), Girl Talk: an interview with Kali Wilde.On the Level, 2(2), June: 23–27.
Stensman, R. (1989), Body Image Among 22 Persons with Acquired and Congenital Severe Mobility Impairment.Paraplegia, 27: 27–35.
Tepper, M. S. (1992), Sexual Education in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: Current Trends and Recommendations.Sexuality and Disability, 10(1): 15–31.
Thompson, K. & J. Andrzejewski (1988),Why Can't Sharon Kowalski Come Home? San Francisco: Spinsters/Aunt Lute.
Todd, A. D. (1984), Women and the Disabled in Contemporary Society.Social Policy, Spring: 44–46.
Violence Victims Denied Accommodation.Southern News (Q'ld), 15 July 1993: 1.
Waxman, B. F. (1991), Hatred: the unacknowledged dimension in violence against disabled people.Sexuality and Disability, 9(3): 185–198.
Weiner, F. (1986),No Apologies: A Guide to Living with a Disability …. New York: St. Martin's Press.
Wendell, S. (1989), Towards a Feminist Theory of Disability.HYPATIA, 4(2), Summer: 104–124.
Westbrook, M. T. & D. L. Chinnery (1990), Negative Attitudes Towards Physically Disabled Women Having Children.Australian Social Work, 43 (4), December: 17–22.
Wolfensberger, W. (1983), Social Role Valorisation: A Proposed New Term for the Principle of Normalisation.Mental Retardation, 21(6): 254–263.
Wolfensberger, W. (1975),The Origin of Our Institutional Models. New York: Human Policy Press.
Womendez, C. & K. Schneidermen (1991), Escaping from Abuse: Unique Issues for Women with Disabilities.Sexuality and Disability, 9(3): 273–279.
Zwerner, J. (1982), Yes, We have Troubles but Nobody's Listening: Sexual Issues of Women with Spinal Cord Injury.Sexuality and Disability, 5(3): 158–171.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tilley, C.M. Sexuality in women with physical disabilities: A social justice or health issue?. Sex Disabil 14, 139–151 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02590607
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02590607