BODY VARIATIONS AND OUR SEXUALITY
Most of us know someone—a friend, a family member, or a classmate—who has a disability. We may be disabled ourselves. People with disabilities are challenged in their everyday lives by activities that may be easy for others. For example, crossing a street, reading a book, or even having a conversation may require extra skills and courage. Disabled people may be physically or mentally challenged. They have emotions, needs, and wants just like people who are not disabled. They are also sexual. They have sexual desires, attractions, imaginations, and sexual response cycles. Sexuality is a major part of their lives, too. Because of their physical or mental challenges, developing their sexuality may require different methods of learning and experiencing.
It is very important to remember that a child who is physically or mentally challenged has the right to be educated about sexuality. It may be awkward for many parents to talk about sexuality to a child who is disabled. The first step in overcoming the fear of talking and educating is to recognize and accept that all people have a sexual birthright.
We must also recognize and deal with the many challenges that people with disabilities may meet while trying to exercise their sexual birthrights. Disabled people may deny their own sexual feelings. They may also fear the sexual advances of others. Some of their fears stem from real feelings of vulnerability. Their other fears reflect the misguided social belief that disabled people are not supposed to be sexual.
Among the many challenges faced by people with disabilities is the development of positive body images and positive attitudes toward sex and sexuality. Family and friends of physically and mentally challenged children and adults need to be especially caring and attentive to these needs.
Just as it is normal for disabled people to become sexually attracted to other people, it is also normal for anyone to be sexually attracted to them. We may fear becoming clumsy if we decide to explore these sexual attractions. We may be embarrassed that we won’t know how to deal with disability in a sexual way. We need only remember that relationships and sexual fulfillment do not rely on only one kind of sex play. Sexual relationships and fulfillment come from sharing intimacy and a wide range of physical sensations.
All people are capable of being intimate and of receiving, giving, and sharing sexual pleasure, whether or not they are disabled. Sexuality can be a great challenge for people with disabilities, their abled or disabled sex partners, and their caregivers. If we acknowledge and address their sexual needs, however, disabled women and men can discover, establish, and maintain the fulfilling sexual relationships to which they are entitled.
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Posted by admin on March 20th, 2009 :: Filed under Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction
Tags :: Men’s Health
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