Sexuality and disability in Portugal: perspectives from a disability rights activist movement

The intersection of disability and sexuality remains a taboo topic. In our social world, people with intellectual disabilities are commonly de-sexualized and infantilized in ways that deny their sexual interests, desires, and rights. This social group experiences a series of disabling social barriers to pursuing and maintaining a romantic and sexual life. Drawing on interviews with 46 adults with intellectual disabilities in Ontario, Canada, this chapter explores the intimate lives of disabled people, demonstrating how other social actors in their lives, such as family members and support care workers, may at times silence and constrain the sexualities of disabled people.

Women have a vital role in environmental management and development. Their full participation is therefore essential to achieve sustainable development” (Principle 20, Rio Declaration). There is a dual rationale for promoting gender equality. Firstly, that equality between women and men-equal rights, opportunities and responsibilities-is a matter of human rights and social justice. And secondly, that greater equality between women and men is also a precondition for (and effective indicator of) sustainable people-centred development. The perceptions, interests, needs and priorities of both women and men must be taken into consideration not only as a matter of social justice but because they are necessary to enrich development processes” (OSAGI 2001).

The paper offers a comprehensive exploration of the concept of disability sexual rights by integrating insights from both legal and sociological frameworks. Sexuality is an integral and inseparable part of human existence, encompassing a wide range of biological, physiological, psychological, and social aspects. Our understanding of sexuality developed over time, and contemporary social models view sexuality as shaped by social, cultural, and political factors. The rise of disability studies and social and critical models marked a significant shift in the way disabled sexuality is perceived. These studies underpin social aspects and constructions that contribute to the disabling process. Current Literature situates disability and sexuality within broader sociological frameworks of sexual citizenship, disability legal studies, and human rights, emphasizing the importance of recognizing disability sexual rights in forming an inclusive society. We examine the evolution of human rights discourse, mainly focusing on disability sexual rights as a marginalized subject within the human rights and disability rights agendas. We conclude by weaving together theories from disability studies, sexual citizenship, and law, proposing a new theoretical model of sexual rights that situates them in the intersection of disability, sexuality, law, and society. The model suggests three essential elements that cover the full scope of disability sexual rights: Access, choice, and pleasure. These elements can be applied to all aspects of disabled sexuality, encompassing sexual needs, participation, and autonomy.

Out of the shadows: Violence against girls and women with disabilities in Portugal

Objective to describe the experiences of people with acquired physical disabilities regarding Activities of Living and to investigate the areas of attention in rehabilitation nursing care. Method qualitative research, based on descriptive phenomenology, which explored the experiences of 27 people with acquired physical disabilities in Portugal, through snowball sampling. Data analysis was conducted using the ATLAS.ti 9 software, following the coding process of Strauss and Corbin, using the theoretical nursing framework of the Roper-Logan-Tierney Model of Nursing Based on Activities of Living. Results Activities of Living emerged as a central theme, revealing challenges faced by people with acquired physical disabilities. According to the theoretical model, all Activities of Living were identified in the participants' experiences, except for the Breathing activity. Accessibility challenges in public spaces were highlighted, with sanitary facilities inadequately prepared to meet people' needs in workplaces and leisure venues, as well as in the healthcare services and in relation to their diagnostic equipment. This results in the loss of independence, autonomy, and restriction of fundamental rights. Additionally, challenges in communication and experiencing the adaptation process to disability as a period of mourning and rebirth were noted, characterized by different emotional phases. Conclusion The experiences of people with acquired physical disabilities and their individual needs regarding Activities of Living should be considered to provide rehabilitation nursing care that promotes quality of life and well-being.

In this paper, we focus on one particular effort undertaken by the city of Toronto, in the late-1990s, to address the problem of homelessness, namely, the attempt to build more homeless shelters and equitably spread them across the city. We argue that any attempts made by municipal governments to address issues of homelessness — and more broadly, matters of social justice — are bound to run into serious roadblocks, so much so that even the most compassionate and well- intended efforts to provide a temporary roof over the heads of those who find themselves without shelter, are likely to be thwarted, significantly delayed or deviate drastically from their original intentions on the one hand, or at the other extreme, fail miserably. When municipalities attempt to address issues such as homelessness, and matters of social justice more generally, these issues are often funnelled into the awkward machinery of zoning law, one of the few legal fields within municipal jurisdiction. Zoning law governs uses and spaces, not persons. This basic legal fact is shown to have an important effect on the outcome of political conflicts, and this problem is exacerbated when a hot-button issue such as where to locate shelters is opened up for public input and consultation. This case study thus suggests the importance of closely studying the specifics of the legal architecture within which municipal politics are waged.

For many years, sexuality has been a peripheral issue in the struggle for the rights of disabled people, both within the sexual rights movement and in academia. Today, however, this intersection of disability and sexuality is emerging as an important social justice concern—a concern that is central to the inclusion of disabled people in postmodern societies. The unprecedented international conference held at San Francisco State University in June 2000, titled Disability, Sexuality, and Culture: Societal and Experiential Perspectives on Multiple Identities, was a watershed event out of which crystallized a sense of common purpose. This conference had a profound impact on all those who attended, and much subsequent work has been influenced by the convergence of the many issues and ideas that were raised there. The First International Conference on Queerness & Disability, held at San Francisco State University in 2002, was also important in mapping out some key queer and sexual minority concerns within the field of disability and sexuality studies. Edited books and special issues of journals engaging critical multidisciplinary scholarship on disability and sexuality are becoming more common (McRuer & Mollow, in press; McRuer & Wilkerson, 2003; Mona & Shuttleworth, 2000, 2002; Shuttleworth & Mona, 2000). The issue of disability and sexuality is finally moving into the foreground of concerns within both activist and academic circles. This special issue of Sexuality Research and Social Policy: Journal of NSRC highlights some of the present research trends in this vital area and discusses several social policy concerns. The idea for the special issue emerged from the fifth biennial IASSCS (International Association for the Study of Sexuality and Culture in Society) Conference, titled Sexual Rights and Moral Panics, held in 2005 at San Francisco State University. Some extraordinary papers on disability and sexuality were presented at that conference, three of which are included in this special issue. These articles vary methodologically, with Fraley, Mona, and Theodore (2007) discussing clinical experiences in their article, “The Sexual Lives of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People With Disabilities: Psychological Perspectives”; Abbott and Burns (2007) reporting on substantive data from qualitative research in their article, “What’s Love Got to Do With It?: Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People With Intellectual Disabilities in the United Kingdom and Views of the Staff Who Support Them”; and Dawn Reynolds (2007) presenting a case study in her article, “Disability and BDSM: Bob Flanagan and the Case for Sexual Rights.” All three articles offer important suggestions for social policy in their respective areas. The last article, by Margrit Shildrick (2007), “Contested Pleasures: The Sociopolitical Economy of Disability and Sexuality,” takes an expansive and critical view of the field from the perspective of cultural theory. One hopes that these articles will contribute to the goal of increasing the visibility of disability and sexuality as an academic concern and a social justice issue with policy implications. Before introducing the individual articles, this introduction will provide a broad framework for understanding some of the impetus for the recent emergence of disability and sexuality as a cause celebre by briefly outlining some past and present trends in disability and sexuality

This paper aims to explore, from an ecological approach, the perception of the concept of academic success and the personal factors that contribute to the university success of graduates with disabilities. This paper focuses on the personal factors of academic success based on the experiences and perspectives of graduates with disabilities. The study adopted a phenomenological approach using semi-structured interviews. The data were collected at a Portuguese University in southern Portugal and analysed using an ad hoc inductive and qualitative coding system. The results reveal the diversity of perceptions about academic success and the importance of resilience, autonomy, and self-determination. These data contrast the conventional notion of success focused exclusively on academic performance and highlight to recognise the diverse contributions of these students to the university environment. Regarding personal factors, resilience is a recurring factor among participants. Adapting and persevering in the face of challenges was essential for success, alongside autonomy, self-efficacy, and self-determination.

Meeting healthcare needs is a matter of social justice. Healthcare needs are virtually limitless; however, resources, such as money, for meeting those needs, are limited. How then should we (just and caring citizens and policymakers in such a society) decide which needs must be met as a matter of justice with those limited resources? One reasonable response would be that we should use cost effectiveness as our primary criterion for making those choices. This article argues instead that cost-effectiveness considerations must be constrained by considerations of healthcare justice. The goal of this article will be to provide a preliminary account of how we might distinguish just from unjust or insufficiently just applications of cost-effectiveness analysis to some healthcare rationing problems; specifically, problems related to extraordinarily expensive targeted cancer therapies. Unconstrained compassionate appeals for resources for the medically least well-off cancer patients will be neither just nor cost effective.

Gender equality, as equality of rights between men and women, equality of their opportunities and status, is not only a matter of social justice, but also of sustainable development of the economy and financial stability of the country.The article reviews the literature including the definition of gender equality and its evolution over time, as well as an analysis of different approaches to understanding financial and economic security. Special attention is paid to the role of gender equality in financial inclusion and economic activity of women. The impact of gender equality on social capital and sustainable development of countries is analyzed. The purpose of this article is to provide an understanding of the relationship between gender equality and financial and economic security, and to highlight the importance of gender aspects in achieving sustainable and consistent development of the country. The gender wage gap and the low participation of women in employment and economic processes in general limit the potential of the economy. Continuous persistence of such inequalities results in loss of resources and opportunities for economic growth. The untapped potential and knowledge of women become an obstacle to increasing productivity and innovation. A special emphasis on gender equality in the financial and economic sector contributes to increasing women’s access to financial services, their economic independence and reducing the risks of financial insecurity. This contributes to increasing the stability of the economy and financial security. Gender equality also has a positive impact on entrepreneurship and innovation, which contributes to the development of new markets and job creation. Thus, gender equality is not only a matter of justice, but also a key factor for achieving sustainable economic development and ensuring the country’s financial stability. Understanding the relationship between gender equality and financial and economic security is an important step in ensuring the prosperity and long-term sustainability of society.

ABSTRACTCalls for greater inclusion in US museums have recently become hard to ignore. The intersection of inclusion and museums, however, has longer roots and has primarily been understood as a means for museums to ensure and increase public access to their activities and services. Despite the field’s long-standing attention to inclusion, visitor and employee demographic studies do not indicate that US museums’ publicness significantly extends beyond a privileged subset of the population. In this paper, I argue that inclusion in museums is a matter of social justice. Using Nancy Fraser’s two-dimensional theory of social justice, I argue that inclusion efforts in museums have thus far been unsuccessful because there has been (1) insufficient attention to demands of recognition and (2) insufficient coordination of redistribution and recognition endeavours. Developing a proper appreciation of the justice-structured aspect of inclusion is more likely to produce the results to which many museum professionals aspire.

It has long been a matter of concern that Indigenous students, as a group, do less well educationally than their non-Indigenous counterparts. Despite the evidence to support the fact that if students and their cultures are not acknowledged, they tend to be less engaged in schooling than those students whose cultures are presented as the norm. Indigenous studies are apt to be at the margins of the curriculum. In this article, therefore, a case is made for teaching Indigenous studies through a comparison of the author's home state of Western Australia with Montana—one of the few states in the United States to have mandated the teaching of Indian culture and history and to tease out lessons that could be learned because the teaching of Indigenous studies is a matter of social justice; indeed, it is a matter of urgency.

Globally, food concerns in higher education have emerged as an issue of critical importance. Food acquisition struggles and high rates of food insecurity among students have been documented, yet food within higher education continues to be an under-researched area of study. This paper calls for advancing research that critically engages with food concerns in higher education. The argument is made that food concerns should be viewed as a social justice matter, and a case is made for conducting research on food concerns by adopting an alternative approach to research in this area – a transformative paradigm. The paper advances new insights for the philosophical, methodological and ethical dimensions to researching food in higher education as a matter of social justice. The argument is made that a transformative approach to research is conducive for examining the experiences of those who are marginalised within the context of higher education and confront food challenges.

What children learn through their ethics and values education in school is of crucial societal relevance and is directed by school curricula. As curricula vary between countries, an international comparison is of interest. The aim of this study was to compare curricula to reveal variations in how matters of social justice were described in curricular texts, with a special focus on class, gender and race. Curricula from five different contexts were compared: Namibia; South Africa; California State, United States of America; Province of Québec, Canada; and Sweden. This provided the study, originating in Sweden, with crucial comparative material from outside Europe. The studied curricula were systematically searched for the importance and significance of the terms ‘poverty/poor’, ‘gender’, ‘equity’, ‘equality’, ‘justice’, ‘race’, ‘racism’, ‘human dignity/rights’, ‘equal value’ and Ubuntu. Methodologically, this represented a qualitative content analysis approach with a research interest in intersectionality, that is, in how matters of class, gender and race intersect. The study showed considerable variation between the curricular formulations from the five contexts. For example, texts from California and Québec emphasised equality as a general matter and less as one of intersectionality, compared to Namibia and South Africa as well as Sweden. In general, human rights were emphasised, but human dignity less so. For future curricular development towards education as a global common good, matters of social justice, including sustainability, need critical monitoring. The aspects of intersectionality such as class, gender and race are thus crucial, as is the inclusion of an integrated, participatory view on students’ ethical competence.

The statements from the Prime Minister and Secretary of State is exactly what we wanted to hear. We have all been feeling in the last two days that it may be a trick of the light, but the world looks to be a slightly more hopeful place than it did before. Hearing the Prime Minister and Secretary of State, adds to my sense of hopefulness. I want to give you a brief overview of what we were trying to do. I think that the messages in our report have been well summarised by the Prime Minister and Secretary of State. Let me say right at the beginning, we were pushed in the CSDH to take an economic view. We were pushed to make the argument that closing the gap, reducing health inequities, would only be listened to by politicians if we made the economic case. We resisted that argument. We said that the reason for taking action on health inequity is a matter of social justice; the reason for doing it is because it is the right thing to do. People value having health, not because having health gets them a better job or they can live in a better neighbourhood, but because they value health. Where, in our judgement, these differences in health, these systematic inequalities in health are avoidable and are not avoided, then they are unfair. Hence, putting them right is a matter of social justice. At the centre of what we are trying to achieve is empowerment of individuals, of communities and indeed of whole countries. We think of empowerment as material, psycho-social and political. Material means having the resources to feed your children. John Humphrys said that it is the business of journalists to simplify. It is the business of academics to say it is more complicated. It is not material, but having control of your life. That’s the psychosocial aspect; also having voice. We want to create the conditions for people to lead flourishing lives. The Commission was set up by Dr J. W. Lee, the former Director General of WHO, and was launched in Chile. President Lagos hosted the launch and later joined the Commission. Dr Lee said the goal of the Commission is not an academic exercise, but to marshal scientific evidence as a lever for policy change aiming towards practical uptake among policy makers and stakeholders in countries. That was very much our orientation. Dr Lee, at the launch, emphasised the issue of health inequities within and between countries, and this was indeed part of our brief. To come back to the question posed at the beginning – isn’t it simply that poor people have poor health because of their poverty? Why, I would ask