Sexuality erased, questioned, and explored: The experiences of South Africans with physical disabilities

Abstract

The sexuality of people with disabilities has historically been a site of oppression and discrimination. The sexuality of people with disabilities remains relatively under-researched and poorly understood. As a result, many myths and misconceptions about the sexuality of people with disabilities may prevail. This paper reports on findings from a qualitative study exploring the experiences of 13 people with physical disabilities in South Africa. A thematic analysis was conducted to explore how the sexuality of participants are constructed by others, as revealed by reported interactions with non-disabled people. Results show that often the sexuality of people with disabilities is erased by others, or they are questioned, often in prejudiced ways, and less frequently they are explored in intimate relationships.