Dating persons with physical disabilities: The perceptions of South Africans without disabilities
Article
Hunt, Xanthe, Swartz, Leslie, Carew, Mark Thomas, Braathen, Stine Hellum, Chiwaula, Mussa and Rohleder, P. 2017. Dating persons with physical disabilities: The perceptions of South Africans without disabilities. Culture, Health and Sexuality. 20 (2), pp. 141-155. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2017.1334964
Authors | Hunt, Xanthe, Swartz, Leslie, Carew, Mark Thomas, Braathen, Stine Hellum, Chiwaula, Mussa and Rohleder, P. |
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Abstract | There is good reason to believe that the attitudes of persons without disability towards dating a person with a physical disability might be unfavourable. However, in general, and in the Global South in particular, there is a dearth of research in this area. This study sought to take the first step in addressing this lack of enquiry, by surveying the attitudes of a general population sample in South Africa towards dating people with physical disabilities, using a vignette. Data from 1,723 survey respondents were analysed thematically. Findings reveal largely negative attitudes towards people with physical disabilities. Respondents without disability perceived numerous barriers to dating a person with a physical disability, including social stigma, anxiety, and concerns about the burden of care they believed such a relationship would place upon them. However, there was some evidence to suggest that some positive attitudes do exist, and a few respondents were open to dating a person with physical disabilities. Findings contribute to a nuancing and expanding of the ‘myth of asexuality’ among physically disabled people by showing that people with physical disabilities are actively desexualised by persons without disability. Future research is needed to explore how the inclusive attitudes, of which we did find evidence here, can be further cultivated. |
Keywords | disability; dating beliefs; contact theory; social exclusion; prejudice; South Africa |
Journal | Culture, Health and Sexuality |
Journal citation | 20 (2), pp. 141-155 |
ISSN | 1369-1058 |
1464-5351 | |
Year | 2017 |
Publisher | Taylor & Francis (Routledge) |
Accepted author manuscript | License |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2017.1334964 |
Web address (URL) | https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2017.1334964 |
Publication dates | |
Online | 21 Jun 2017 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 08 Jun 2017 |
Accepted | 23 May 2017 |
Accepted | 23 May 2017 |
Copyright information | © 2017 Taylor & Francis. This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Culture, Health and Sexuality on 21/06/2017, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13691058.2017.1334964 |
Additional information | Title may not exactly replicate the final version published in the journal as Hunt, X., Carew, M., Braathen, S., Swartz, L., Chiwaula, M., &Rohleder, P. (in press). “All he meant was being nice out of pity”: Non-disabled South Africans’ narratives about dating persons with physical disabilities. Culture, Health & Sexuality. |
https://repository.uel.ac.uk/item/84v52
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Accepted author manuscript
Accepted manuscript - Culture health and sexuality - Hunt et al.pdf | ||
License: All rights reserved |
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