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“I Want to Do it Right!” A Pilot Study of Swedish Sex Education and Young People with Intellectual Disabilities

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Abstract

In Sweden sex education has been compulsory since 1955. However, access to sex education seems to be insufficient in schools with special education programs. Concerns about unwanted pregnancies, sexual abuse and sexual risk situations make personnel insecure about how to best deal with the subject. A largely heteronormative perspective of sex education renders young gay people with ID an invisible group. Stereotyped gender norms where girls are supposed to be oriented towards love and relationships and boys towards sexuality make it more difficult for young people with ID to find a more subtle way to act. The aim of this study is to strengthen sexual health among young people with ID, and to develop a knowledge base culled from their own experiences that can help teachers in special schools to supply sufficient sex education. What are the experiences of sex education in young people with ID aged 16–21? In what way, and by whom, should sex education be supplied? What themes do the young people with ID consider important? Qualitative research interviews with 16 young females (9) and males (7) with ID aged 16–21 years have been conducted. Guiding the analyses is an interactionist perspective on sexuality. Results show that a restrictive script is geared toward informants with ID, focusing on sexual risks instead of challenging a discourse of pleasure, desire and intimacy. The study also shows that using critical pedagogy can help personnel develop a professional and adequate teaching model for sex education at schools for adolescents with ID.

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Notes

  1. A secondary special education school will offer national, special and individual programs in Sweden. The different programs are mainly focused on career preparation (http://www.skolverket.se) Accessed 27 May 2011.

  2. “Sex on the map” is a cartoon that speaks clearly and is based on young people’s own questions. The film is meant to be used for sex education in high schools. The film is produced by RFSU and UR with support from the Heritage Fund, Sweden. (http://www.rfsu.se/sv/Sexualundervisning/RFSU-material/Sex-pa-kartan--filmen/) Accessed 10 September 2011.

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Acknowledgments

The pilot study was funded by Forskningsplattformen, Handikappvetenskap inriktning habilitering [Research Platform—Disability Research focusing habilitation], Sweden. The Plat form consists of a partnership between Region Skåne, Lund University, Malmö University and the Center for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (HAREC) to promote practice-oriented interdisciplinary research.

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  1. Center for Professional Studies, Malmö University, SE-205 06, Malmö, Sweden

    Lotta Löfgren-Mårtenson

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  1. Lotta Löfgren-Mårtenson
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Correspondence to Lotta Löfgren-Mårtenson.

 

 

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Löfgren-Mårtenson, L. “I Want to Do it Right!” A Pilot Study of Swedish Sex Education and Young People with Intellectual Disabilities. Sex Disabil 30, 209–225 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-011-9239-z

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