“I am not a blue angel”: Sexuality from the perspective of autistic adolescentes

Ciencia e Saude Coletiva

article

Brilhante, Aline Veras Morais¹  Filgueira, Leila Maria de Andrade¹  Lopes, Samuel Verter Marinho Uchôa¹  Vilar, Nathalie Barreto Saraiva¹  Nóbrega, Lívia Rocha Mesquita¹  Pouchain, Ana Juarina Magalhães Verissimo¹  Sucupira, Luiz Carlos Gabriele¹ 

[1] Universidade de Fortaleza

关键词: Sexual education;    Sexuality;    Autism;   

DOI  :  10.1590/1413-81232021262.40792020

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Associacao Brasileira de Pos - Graduacao em Saude Coletiva

【 摘 要 】

Despite the difficulties in living their sexualities, the sexual education of autistic people is often neglected. In this sense, this research aims to identify autistic people’s demands on their sexualities, in line with the neurodiversity paradigm. This qualitative research was carried out from September 2017 to October 2018, with 14 autistic children aged 15 to 17 enrolled in regular schools. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and analyzed according to the thematic content analysis. Two analytical categories were identified: “discursive processes and the ‘blue angel’ imagery”; and “diversity in diversity: the sexuality of autistic people as singular processes”. The results show that, while autistic people grow physically and sexually according to the typical development stages, some singularities should not be ignored. However, the construction of false beliefs encourages the denial of autistic people’s sexuality. We can conclude that the establishment of effective actions of sexual education and support to the sexuality of the autistic person requires a paradigmatic change anchored in the social model of disability.

【 授权许可】

CC BY