Abuse of Women with Disabilities

Hassouneh-Phillips, Dena; Curry, Mary Ann

doi:10.1177/003435520204500204

Cited by 85 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…For some women, these disadvantages translate into an increased tolerance of abuse in intimate partner relationships out of fear that no one else will want or care for them (11). This is a major concern since abuse poses a significant threat to the health and safety of women with physical disabilities (11,(21)(22)(23).…”

Section: Sexual and Body Esteem In Women With High Degrees Of Physicamentioning

confidence: 99%

“I Thought I was Less Worthy”: Low Sexual and Body Esteem and Increased Vulnerability to Intimate Partner Abuse in Women with Physical Disabilities

Hassouneh-Phillips

McNeff

2005

Sex Disabil

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Several studies have documented disproportionately low sexual and body esteem in women with high degrees of physical impairment. Moreover, other studies have begun to examine the problem of intimate partner and other forms of abuse in women with physical disabilities. In this article we examine the link between low sexual and body esteem and intimate partner abuse in women with physical disabilities based on findings obtained from an in-depth qualitative study. Findings indicate that women with high degrees of physical impairment are more likely to perceive themselves as sexually inadequate and unattractive than women with mild impairment. These negative perceptions, when combined with a strong desire to be partnered, increased women's vulnerability to getting into and staying in abusive relationships over time. Major themes presented in the article include: societal devaluation, low sexual and body esteem, preference for non-disabled men, desire to be partnered, and relationship decision-making. We depict the relationships between each of these themes in a simple model to further aid the reader's understanding.KEY WORDS: intimate partner violence; sexual esteem; body esteem; women with physical disabilities.Sexual and body esteem in women with physical disabilities are important factors that affect self-esteem and mental health. Sexual esteem refers to one's sense of self as a sexual being, ranging from sexually

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Section: Sexual and Body Esteem In Women With High Degrees Of Physicamentioning

confidence: 99%

“I Thought I was Less Worthy”: Low Sexual and Body Esteem and Increased Vulnerability to Intimate Partner Abuse in Women with Physical Disabilities

Hassouneh-Phillips

McNeff

2005

Sex Disabil

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“…Balogh et al, 2001;Sobsey, 2002). This increased risk is part of a broader pattern of victimization and maltreatment of children and adults with disabilities, including physical disabilities and learning disabilities (Hassouneh-Phillips & Curry, 2002;Horner-Johnson & Drum, 2006;Li, Ford, & Moore, 2000;Little, 2004;Martin et al, 2006;McCarthy, 1998;Sullivan & Knutson, 2000).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Women and girls are more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than men and boys, in both disabled and nondisabled populations (Acierno, Resnick, & Kilpatrick, 1997;Elliott, Mok, & Briere, 2004;Finkelhor, Ormrod, Turner, & Hamby, 2005;Hassouneh-Phillips & Curry, 2002). Gender differences are smaller among individuals with disabilities, in part because perpetrators, who are usually male, are more likely to have access (through caregiving roles) to disabled boys and men than to disabled girls and women (Sobsey & Doe, 1991;Sobsey, Randall, & Parrila, 1997).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Language Impairment and Sexual Assault of Girls and Women: Findings from a Community Sample

Brownlie

Jabbar

Beitchman

et al. 2007

J Abnorm Child Psychol

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Both children and adults with disabilities face increased prevalence of abuse and assault, including sexual assault. Women and girls are disproportionately the victims of sexual assault in both disabled and nondisabled populations. Communication difficulties have been identified as a factor that may increase the vulnerability of individuals with disabilities to sexual assault. However, few studies have examined whether language impairment increases risk for sexual assault. This study reports on a community sample of children with speech or language impairment, followed to age 25. Sexual assault history was assessed based on two questions from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Posttraumatic Stress Disorder module. Women with language impairment (n = 33) were more likely than women with unimpaired language (n = 59) to report sexual abuse/assault, controlled for socioeconomic status. Sexual assault was associated with higher rates of psychiatric disorders and poorer functioning. Women with neither language impairment nor a history of sexual assault had fewer psychiatric disorders and higher functioning than women with language impairment and/or a history of sexual assault.

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“…Women with learning disabilities are often portrayed as victims, armed with little formal knowledge of their physicality or rights (Hassouneh-Phillips and Curry, 2002). The precarious and delightful nuances of the experience of romantic love and sexual satisfaction are largely documented as fleeting, if not missing (Blyth and Chapman, 2015).…”

Section: [This] Constitutes Discrimination a Form Of Violence Or Tormentioning

confidence: 99%

Contraceptive choices for women with learning disabilities

Walmsley¹,

Earle

Tilley

et al. 2016

Learning Disability Practice

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Abuse of Women with Disabilities

Cited by 85 publications

References 18 publications

“I Thought I was Less Worthy”: Low Sexual and Body Esteem and Increased Vulnerability to Intimate Partner Abuse in Women with Physical Disabilities

“I Thought I was Less Worthy”: Low Sexual and Body Esteem and Increased Vulnerability to Intimate Partner Abuse in Women with Physical Disabilities

Language Impairment and Sexual Assault of Girls and Women: Findings from a Community Sample

Contraceptive choices for women with learning disabilities

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