Muted voices: The unexplored sexuality of young persons with learning disability in Malta.

Accessible summary: Persons with learning disability who live in Malta, especially women, feel they do not have as many opportunities to make friends and form relationships as other persons who do not have a learning disability.Persons with learning disability feel lonely but wish they had the oppor...

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Published in:British Journal of Learning Disabilities Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 156 - 165
Main Authors: Azzopardi Lane, Claire L., Cambridge, Paul, Murphy, Glynis
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Sep2019
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      jtl: British Journal of Learning Disabilities
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      dt: Sep2019
      vid: 47
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
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        atl: Muted voices: The unexplored sexuality of young persons with learning disability in Malta.
      aug:
        au:
          Azzopardi Lane, Claire L.
          Cambridge, Paul
          Murphy, Glynis
        affil: Department of Disability Studies, University of Malta, Msida Malta
      sug:
        subj:
          Intellectual Disability In Adulthood
          Persons with Disabilities Psychosocial Factors
          Attitude to Sexuality In Adulthood
          Human
          Malta
          Phenomenological Research
          Qualitative Studies
          Social Attitudes
          Stereotyping
          Community Health Services
          Social Networking
          Friendship
          Social Behavior
          Sexual Identity
          Adult
          Adult: 19-44 years
      ab: Accessible summary: Persons with learning disability who live in Malta, especially women, feel they do not have as many opportunities to make friends and form relationships as other persons who do not have a learning disability.Persons with learning disability feel lonely but wish they had the opportunity to do the things non‐disabled people do, such as have relationships, get married, live on their own and have children.At times, their parents and people who work with them do not help them with this.It is important that persons with learning disability from a young age are supported and empowered so that they can exercise their sexual rights. Background: This paper explores the sexuality of young persons with learning disability in Malta with respect to their opportunities and the constraints they experience. Materials and Methods: Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to decode qualitative data collected from persons with learning disability. Results: Findings reveal a context of disabling social attitudes, stereotypical gender imagery and exclusionary social practices. In addition, youth with learning disability experience a lack of community support and social networking, thus calling for platforms and spheres where they can form and maintain friendships and relationships. Conclusions: It is concluded that Malta lacks the fundamental social acceptance that persons with learning disability are sexual beings, with the right to express their sexuality and to form relationships. Overcoming such cultural hurdles will empower persons with learning disability to establish and express their sexual identities.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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