Disability and Sexual Rights 101: Slide Show and Overview

Content Warning: The slide show (posted at the end of the article) contains references to negative and derogatory terms towards PwD, explicit sexual terminology, graphic self-destructive behavior, sexual abuse and sexual violence.

Having recently completed my training at The Disability, Sexuality and Rights Online Institute held by CREA, I thought I would share with you the “surface” of what I learned from my studies.

The intensive 9-week course consisted a group of 25 participants who were practitioners and activists on sexuality, disability, social justice, public health, development, and media.  The participants represented several continents, including Africa, Australia, Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia.

Here is a summary of topics we covered at the Institute:

• Theory and Practice of Disability & Rights
• Sexuality & Human Rights
• Integrating Disability, Sexuality & Rights
• Disability and Women’s Health: improving sexual and reproductive health care for women with disabilities
• Representation of Disability and Sexuality
• Understanding Disability, Sexuality and Rights in the Developing World

* We also covered gender rights for people with and without disabilities.

The objectives of the training were to create awareness about the disability and sexuality ‘intersection’, build a political perspective on disabled people’s sexual rights, and challenge one’s knowledge of the complex relationship between disability, sexuality and social justice.  Although I related to a lot that was presented, it did challenge me to re-construct my knowledge with alternative approaches.  It was a challenge that I embraced.

My favorite part of the experience was having the opportunity to gain a network of colleagues working in the disability, sexuality and rights (DSR) field, and to interact with each other through enlightening conversations.  You really can’t put a price tag on the value of learning from others who share your interests.

As of now, the Disability, Sexuality and Rights Online Institute is being offered once a year (in the Fall), and it is entirely conducted online.  For anyone pursuing the DSR field I would highly recommend taking this course.  It is fairly competitive to get in (they only accept 25 participants to make the course more personalized).  But it doesn’t cost anything to apply.  Once CREA announces the dates for next year’s course, I will post the details.

Below is my final project assignment that was presented to the Institute: a slide show addressing the barriers that people with disabilities face in accessing sexual rights, and why sexual rights matter when it comes to disability rights advocacy.

Use the arrows to manually advance the slides. Click on the square symbol on the bottom right corner (just left of the ‘aS’ logo) to view it in fullscreen.

Presentation Transcript:

1.  Title: A Brief Statement on Disability and Sexual Rights | Final Project Presentation for CREA’s Disability, Sexuality and Rights Online Institute 2011

2.  Under the umbrella of social construction…

3.  …and its Modules of Disability (Fate/Superstition-Model, Charity-Model, Welfare-Model, Medical-Model, Social-Model)

4.  resides a development of myths, stereotypes and labels of people with disabilities which are negative, including (but not limited to)…

5.  impaired, abnormal, freak, retarded, asexual, victim, childlike, innocent, tragedy, pitiable, outsider, unambitious, vanilla, dependent, needy, deformed, other, dangerous, weak, infectious, scrounger, lack-of-libido, beggar, faggot, nonorgasmic, ill, diseased, alien, impregnable, irregular, incapable, handicapped, unintelligent, stupid, chronic-masturbator, damaged, odd, dirty, burden, scary, crazy, insane, unsexy, bad-in-bed, ugly, midget, submissive, cripple, straight, boring, etc.

6.  Including stereotypes and labels that when used, may appear positive, but are not beneficial…

7.  brave, warrior, overcome, combater, hero, symbolic, savior, courageous, perfect-in-the-eyes-of-god, fighter, healing, differently-abled, against-all-odds, gifted, special, lesson-tool, patriotic, sick, can’t-help-it, amazing, blessed, handi-capable, physically-challenged, angelic, sweetheart, etc.

8.  Denials, restrictions and revocations are often placed on people with disabilities, with limited or no allowance to…

9.  self-defense, responsibility, consent, birth-control-of-choice, sex-talk, relationships, sexual-rights, intimacy, OB/GYN-checkups, sexual-technique-instruction, sexual-surrogacy, sexuality-education, parties, information, visibility, sexual-activity, privacy, marriage, decision-making, sexual-relations, bonding, pregnancy, informed-choices, pornography, erotica, personal-spending, sexual-expression, permission, dating, romance-novels, sleepovers, sexuality-careers, parenthood, sexual-exploration, XXX, choice-of-partner, truth, etc.

10.  and limit the accessibility of…

11.  sexual-health-clinics, sex-toys, strip-clubs, education, porn-shops, sexual-awareness, performance-venues, cues, interpreters, child-bearing, birth-control, sexuality-education, healthcare, safe-sex, dance-clubs, instruction, information, adult-movie-theaters, sexual-pleasure, alternative-communication, materials, prenatal-care, STD-protection, escort-services, pregnancy, adult-entertainment, burlesque-clubs, sex-positions, reproductive-healthcare-services, sexual-satisfaction, etc.

12.  Even when restrictions and denials are conducted with good intention, well-meaning or lack of awareness, restrictions and denials do not equate love and acceptance.

13.  When we as people with disabilities receive and take in all the stereotypes, labels, restrictions and denials, we feel…

14.  inadequate, unworthy, out-of-place, unwanted, hopeless, shit, guilty, broken, ashamed, weak, minimal, unsafe, awful, shy, afraid, stabbed, abandoned, nasty, stigmatized, unprotected, imprisoned, hated, worthless, insufficient, self-hatred, angry, terrible, disgusting, unequipped, humiliated, ripped, exposed, bad, embarrassed, hurt, undefined, wicked, sorrow, deprived, torn-apart, evil, lost, unappreciated, ugly, dead, pointless, unsure, suicidal, objectified, dirty, upset, pain, insignificant, vulnerable, outcasted, uncomfortable, powerless, confused, alone, foreign, silenced, etc.

15.  And it can lead to serious consequences…

16.  suicide, rape, infertility, death, sexual-abuse, loneliness, anorexia, bigotry, never-experiencing-sexual-pleasure, exile, negligence, depression, cutting, STIs/STDs, prejudice, unemployment, unnecessary-dependency, anxiety, psychological-abuse, deprivation, self-mutilation, secrecy, bulimia, abortion, segregation, vasectomy, slavery, hospitalization, manipulation, detention, physical-abuse, domestic-violence, poverty, discrimination, seclusion, expulsion, genital-mutilation, sexual-assault, meltdown, never-experiencing-orgasms, sterilization, violence, exploitation, restraint, starvation, etc.

17.  This is unacceptable. We must change the way we perceive (dis)ability and sexuality.

18.  In order to do that, we need to understand the definition of sexuality and why sexuality is important to address.

19.  Anna Freud, psychoanalyst and daughter of Sigmund Freud, once wrote: “Sexuality is something you do, sexuality is something you are.”

20.  Sexuality is more than just sexual acts. Sexuality is not just about…

21.  intercourse, cunnilingus, blow-jobs, masturbation, vibrators, cock-rings, ticklers, vaginas, garter-belts, dildos, anal-sex, orgasm, lube, sucking, booty, fucking, handcuffs, erections, tits, climax, penises, “doggy-style”, boners, french-kissing, masturbation, climax, breasts, sexual-positions, vulva, cum, 69, dick, balls, whips, pussy, shagging, foreplay, fetishes, jacking-off, lingerie, panties, ejaculation, clitoris, doing-it, nipples, licking, S&M, ass, clit, humping, cleavage, “pearl-necklaces”, twat, orgies, horny, getting-it-on, sticking-it, “home-runs” going-all-the-way, riding-the-pony, cunt, spanking, “checking-her-oil”, rim-jobs, felatio, banging, nuts, snatch, pecker, head, harnesses,”toolbox”, genitalia, “choking-the-chicken”, beaver, sexual-arousal, kink, etc.

22.  Sexuality is a product of social construction, containing set of ideas about: appearance, actions, behaviors, expressions, thoughts, feelings, relationships, identity

23.  Every culture contains an aspect of sexuality in its forms, meanings, and established sexual norms. Sexuality is a circular term, and its intertwining strands contain no clear boundaries. Sexuality is incorporated into…

24.  self-expression, mentality, gender, religion, fashion, music, erotic-practices, fantasy, media, biology, career, what-you-do, values, friendships, senses, embodiment, science, employment, law, healthcare, reproduction, nature, sexual-orientation, politics, what-you-feel, education, spirituality, the-way-you-dress, art, psychology, needs, morality, desires, society, justice, thought, evolution, procreation, identity, personal-preference, manufacturing, personality, transportation, advocacy, body-piercings, economy, speaking-voice, philosophy, medicine, emotions, marriage, hierarchy, breathing, the-way-you-walk, tattoos, intimacy, research, personality, sitting-position, expression, war, technology, sports, building, power, food, human-rights, mood, hairstyle, makeup, communication, appearance, publication, family, movement, diversity, relationships, perspective, translation, mathematics, feelings, pleasure, interaction, dance, writing, ego, adaptation, language, pain, birth, death, romance, interpretation, performance, roles, age, behavior, viewpoints, exercise, traits, ambition, conversation, journalism, etc.

25.  Our world contains both positive and negative influencers of our actions, behaviors, decisions, feelings, thoughts and values on approaching disability and sexuality. These influencers include our…

26.  family, partner, spouse, culture, heritage, society, acquaintances, friends, media, government, coworkers, therapists, peers, professionals, politics, ethics, leaders, scientists, religion, philosophy, caregivers, doctors, teachers, friends

27.  …and what determines our positive and negative influencers will vary according to the individual.

28.  We express and interpret (dis)ability and sexuality in a variety of ways…

29.  film, music, poetry, fantasy, fine-art, dance, photography, creative-writing, technical-writing, collage, prose, teaching, scientific-research, style, modeling, mixed-media, public-speaking, painting, reporting, blogging, presentation, sculpture, etc.

30.  How about stepping outside the normative frameworks? There’s no reason why people with disabilities can’t develop these careers or aspire to be…

31.  sexuality-educators, porn-stars, sexuality-counselors, makeup-artists, adult-entertainers, Playboy-Bunnies, burlesque-dancers, sexologists, fashion-journalists, marriage-family-therapists, sexual-rights-activists, fetishists, escorts, lovers, runway-models, sexual-abuse-counselors, midwives, entertainers, sex-shop-business-owners, sex-therapists, personal-trainers, showgirls, fashion-designers, obstetricians, human-sexuality-professors, erotica-photographers, massage-therapists, couture-salespeople, parents, hairstylists, romance-novel-authors, gynecologists, club-owners, sex-advice-bloggers, doulas, lingerie-models, dominatrices, sex-researchers, etc.

32.  People with disabilities experience the multiple facets of sexuality just like non-disabled people experience the multiple facets of sexuality.

33.  So, why is sexuality important? Because sexual rights are integrated into human rights. Sexual rights are human rights.

34.  We are all interconnected by the fact that we re human beings. As human beings, we have an entitlement and right to…

35.  self-expression, safety, empowerment, positivity, hope, independence, peace, equality, beauty, acceptance, ambition, personal-success, options, security, inclusion, love, support, respect, dignity, intelligence, access, capability, identity, companionship, assistance, fairness, liberty, talent, joy, contribution, well-being, value, affirmation, copyright-protection, happiness, consent, sexual-pleasure, education, community, thought, sexual-fantasy, belonging, nationality, sexual-identity, movement, protection, employment, interest, contentment, validation, connection, leisure, encouragement, marriage, kinship, sexuality, care, pride, health, religious-practice, freedom, responsibility, strength, appreciation, service, personal-opinion, choice, morality, belonging, etc.

36.  This includes our sexual rights. Sexual rights should protect everyone, regardless of disability.

37.  Rethink sexuality justice. Exercise your sexual rights and respect the sexual rights of others.

image credits: h de c