Abstract
There is a severe lack of information on sexuality for any woman with a disability. Often, what is available is limited to material on birth control and child delivery. For women who are disabled and lesbian, virtually no written information exist and health care workers seldom feel comfortable discussing the topic. Lesbians with disabilities have the responsibility to discuss sexual preference with their health care workers. Yet, there is much to lose. This paper discusses the issues of being lesbian and disabled as well as the unique problems faced by their partners. Finally, the article discusses negative attitudes of health care workers toward both disability and homosexuality.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Simon, R. (1991). From the Editor.The Family Therapy Networker, January/February 1991, p.2
Shaffer, S. M., & Greenberg, J. M. (1990).Individual equity plan: Gender and disability. College Park, MD: Vocational Equity Technical Assistance Project.
Fine, M., & Asch, A. (1988).Women with disabilities: Essays in psychology, culture, and politics. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
Browne, S. E., Connors, D. & Stern, N. (1985).With the power of each breath: A disabled women's anthology. San Francisco: Cleis Press.
Fine, M., & Asch, A. (1981). Sexism without the pedestal.Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 8(2).
Capell, B., & Capell, J. (1981). Being parents of children who are disabled. In D. G. Bullard & S. E. Knight (Eds.),Sexuality and physical disability: Personal perspectives. New York: Mosby.
“A world of their own”, by K. Kaufmann,San Francisco Chronicle/Examiner, Review, June 30, 1991.
Thornton, V. (1981). Growing up with cerebral palsy. In D. G. Bullard & S. E. Knight (Eds.),Sexuality and physical disability: Personal perspectives. New York: Mosby.
Rousso, H. (1988). Daughters with Disabilities: Defective Women or Minority Women. In M. Fine and A. Asch,Women with disabilities: Essays in psychology, culture and politics. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 139–171.
Klobas, L. (1989). Television distorts lives of disabled.New Directions for Women, 18(5) p.5.
Remafedi, G. and Blum, R. (1986). Working with gay and lesbian adolescents.Pediatric Annals 15:11, November 1986, 773–783.
Rubin, N. (1981). Clinical issues with disabled Lesbians: An interview with Ricki Boden.Catalyst, 12, 40–43.
Loulan, J. (1987).Lesbian Passion San Francisco: Spinsters Ink.off our backs. (1981). [Special Issue on Women and Disability.] 11 (5). O'Toole, C. J. (1990). Violence and sexual assault plague many disabled women.New Directions for Women, 19(1), p. 17.
Anstett, R., Kiernan, M., Brown, R. (1987). The Gay-Lesbian patient and the family physician.Journal of Family Practice, vol 25, no 4, 1987, 339–344.
Hyler, D. (1985). To choose a child. In S. E. Browne, D. Connors, & N. Stern (Eds.),With the power of each breath: A disabled women's anthology. San Francisco: Cleis Press.
Anderson, L. (1985). The Lois Anderson story. In S. E. Browne, D. Connors, & N. Sterns (Eds.),With the power of each breath: A disabled women's anthology. San Francisco: Cleis Press.
Pastina, L. (1981). Impact of a genetic disability. In D. G. Bullard & S. E. Knight (Eds.),Sexuality and physical disability: Personal perspectives. New York: Mosby.
Ferris, L. (1981). Being a disabled mother. In D. G. Bullard & S. E. Knight (Eds.),Sexuality and physical disability: Personal perspectives. New York: Mosby.
Lenz, R., & Chaves, B. (1981). Becoming active partners. In D. G. Bullard & S. E. Knight (Eds.),Sexuality and physical disability: Personal perspectives. New York: Mosby.
Daniels, S. M. (1981). Critical issues in sexuality and disability. In D. G. Bullard & S. E. Knight (Eds.),Sexuality and physical disability: Personal perspectives. New York: Mosby.
Bogle, J., & Shaul, S. (1981). Body image and the woman with a disability. In D. G. Bullard & S. E. Knight (Eds.),Sexuality and physical disability: Personal perspectives New York: Mosby.
Thompson, K., Andrzejewski, J. (1988). Why can't Sharon Kowalski come home? San Francisco: Spinsters/Aunt Lute.
Bullard, D. G., & Knight, S. E. (1981).Sexuality and physical disability: Personal perspectives. New York: Mosby.
Califia, P. (1988).Sapphistry: The book of lesbian sexuality. Tallahassee, FL: NAIAD Press.
Boston Women's Health Book Collective. (1984).The new our bodies, ourselves. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Gliedman, J., & Roth, W. (1980).The unexpected minority: Handicapped children in America. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Corbett, K., & Froschl, M. (1983). Access to the future: Serving disabled young women. In S. Davidson (Ed.),The second mile: Contemporary approaches in counseling young women. Tucson, AZ: New Directions for Young Women.
Bergum, S., Imazumi, A., & Heumann, J. (1980).The educational needs of disabled women: A concept and planning paper. Berkeley, CA: Center for Independent Living.
Saxton, M. & F. Howe, eds. (1987).With wings: An anthology of literature by and about women with disabilities. New York: Feminist Press.
O'Toole, C. J. & Weeks, C. (1978).What happens after school?: A study of disabled women and education. San Francisco: Women's Educational Equity Communications Network.
Richardson, D. (1987). Recent challenges to traditional assumptions about homosexuality: some implications for practice.Journal of Homosexuality. Vol. 13(4), Summer 1987, 1–12.
Roush, S. E. (1986). Health professionals as contributors to attitudes towards persons with disabilities: a special communication.Physical Therapy, vol 66, number 10, October 1986, 1551–1554
Schwanberg, S. L. (1990). Attitudes towards homosexuality in American health care literature 1983–1987.Journal of Homosexuality, Vol. 19(3), Spring 1990, 117–136
Kus, R. J. (1990). Nurses and unpopular patients.American Journal of Nursing, June 1990, pp 63–66
Stephany, T. M. (1988). Lesbian nurse.Nursing Outlook, Nov/Dec 1988, 295
Gentry, C. S. (1986). Social distance regarding male and female homosexuals.Journal of Social Psychology, 127(2), 199–208
Pritchard, J. G., Dial, L. K., Holloway, R., Mosley, M., Bale, R. M., Kaplowitz, H. J. (1988). Attitudes of Family Medicine Residents toward Homosexuality.Journal of Family Practice, vol 27, no 6, 1988, 637–639
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
O'Toole, C.J., Bregante, J.L. Lesbians with disabilities. Sex Disabil 10, 163–172 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102282
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102282