Sexuality and Mentally Handicapped: People: Issues of Sex Education, Marriage, Parenthood, and Care Staff Attitudes

Issues associated with sexuality, marriage, and parenthood of mentally retarded people are discussed in the context of normalization. Negative attitudes towards sexual expression by mentally retarded people are considered, along with studies which demonstrate that many such individuals are capable of meaningful interpersonal relationships that may culminate in sexual behaviour, marriage and child rearing. Results of a study of care staff attitudes towards mentally retarded people engaging in social-sexual interactions, contraception, sex education, and marriage, are also reported. While the overall findings are consistent with other studies, there was a considerable degree of ambivalence and conservatism expressed by care staff in terms of the expression and practice of sexual behaviour. In concluding, it is argued that counsellors, care staff, and parents have an important role in assisting mentally retarded individuals attain their rights to sexual activity, marriage, and parenthood. Attention is drawn to teaching techniques for use in sex education programs for mentally retarded people, and examples are presented of programs which deal with psycho-sexual development, marriage, parenthood, and sexual problems and dysfunctions.