Sexual Health

Picture: sculpture by G. Vigeland

Some persons with ID are less capable of understanding and interpreting new situations.  They may have problems discriminating between who is natural to hug and who is not. They may need to learn to who is okay to squeeze and who is not. Imagine a person in puberty, with same sexual feelings as other people, but not being able to control and handle such feelings. May be the person also lacks knowledge to understand a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ sexual invitation (11).  

Some PWID are active on the internet and have more than one partner. They may be promiscuous. This behaviour can be difficult for parents, particularly if they live in a small town where everyone knows each other. They can accept an invitation from one or more people to join them or invite them to their own home if they live alone. Some are given ‘gifts’ like cigarettes, Coca cola or clothes. Others become drug users and will trade such substances for sex. Some will be infected with sexually transmitted diseases, and some may develop HIV/AIDS.

Example: Girls who became prostitutes

Some PWID can be uncritical about masturbation in a public space (17, 3). This is particularly problematic if it happens close to childcare centres, or in parks close to children’s play areas. Others who live alone can walk about naked in front of their windows or masturbate by a window where neighbours might see them.

Others may become sexual offenders because they do not understand the boundary between legal and unlawful actions. They often lack education in sexual health. They lack an understanding of social boundaries and trouble to understand what is ‘right behaviour, at the right time and place’. 

Example:  Man masturbating in front of window

Some PWID suffer from negative thoughts about their own bodies and identity (14-16). For making people feel better about themselves we need to show them the variety of bodies that exist and talk positively about what is wonderful about our bodies. Rather than focusing on problems, we need to focus on solutions. 

If you have a daughter or a son with ID, who actively watches pornography, you need to guide him or her to find ‘good’ erotic films to counterbalance the ill doing of the pornography industry.  Movies by Erica Lust or other feminists can be fine. See if you or someone you trust can find a film offering good relations, films showing people who are fond of each other have sex in safe environments. Closeness, tenderness and facial expressions between two people in a film should be of greater importance than sexual organs and penetration. To counter-balance pornographic culture, all countries should offer modern and adequate sexual education.

ACTIVITIES:

• Discuss with your child/sibling/client about good rules for using the internet
  
• Discuss with your child/sibling/client about sexual behaviour, what is acceptable and usual in the country/place where you live. 
  
• Discuss with your child/sibling/client about situations they think are sexual challenging.