The Additional Marginalization of the Currently Marginalized

The Additional Marginalization of the Currently Marginalized

Take a minute to imagine yourself in high school again. You have two basic groups of students: the popular kids and the not so popular kids. Now, imagine not being accepted by either of these groups of kids. How would you feel? Now apply this example to our vast society. This example portrays how life is for many people with disabilities who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (GLBT). I will focus on the biological, psychological, and social aspects of people with disabilities who are GLBT.

Disability and Sexuality

One type of disability is a chronic illness. Leslie R. Schover said,

men and women with a chronic illness are at heightened risk for having sexual problems. Chronic illness is a risk factor both because of the physiological changes from a disease or its treatment and because of the psychological impact. Decreased frequencies of sex as well as high rates of sexual dysfunction have been documented in patients with cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurological disease, diabetes, end-stage renal disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic pain. (2000)

Many people with disabilities due to the nature of their disability may have some type of sexual dysfunction that could impair their relationships or prevent them from forming a lasting relationship. The biological, or physical, feature of a disability is one element of a person that can have an effect on their sexuality. K. L. Parish said,

pain can interfere with desire and ability to engage in sex, but sexual behavior may help reduce pain; arthritis may require finding different positions for sexual intercourse; frequent hospital visits can cause separations from partner; sexually transmitted diseases create the need for safer sex and have a deeper impact on the relationship; medications can cause fatigue or body changes [e.g. erectile dysfunction]. (2002)

Chronic illness can bring about many unexpected side issues that directly or indirectly influence a person's sexuality. I live with a chronic illness, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). There are days when I feel fatigued, or I feel malaise, and do not have the desire, nor the physical energy, needed to be intimate with another person.

A disability can also affect a person's social world. According to Parish,

cultural norms encouraging the bearing of children are problematic for couples with genetic or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission concerns; excessive school absences may lead to fewer social outlets, friends, and reduced chance of developing relationships; conversely, support groups may lead to more social activity and networks that can increase one's sense of sexual desirability and worth; improving social skills can facilitate attempts to form connections. (2002)

As an individual living with ESRD since my birth, the social attribute of disability and of sexuality has affected me directly. I missed quite a lot of school during my elementary school years including junior high school. I had very few friendships because I was socially stunted. When I was at school, I was not allowed to participate in any sports and had to be careful in physical education classes. I lacked the social skills that most children acquire during their formative years because I was not in school enough to learn them like the other children were learning them. Since that time, I am constantly trying socially to catch up from what I lost during my childhood.

Living with a disability may cause psychological or mental health issues to develop. These psychological issues may affect a person's sexuality too.

Immaturity and poor judgment can contribute to poor decision-making under pressure (and failure to use a condom); feeling 'different' and inadequate can lead to depression and withdrawal from relationships; sensitivity to the feelings and needs of others can enhance relationship success and sexual satisfaction even when there are physical limitations. (Parish, 2002)

Psychologically, living with a chronic illness has lead to depression and anxiety for most of my life. I take an antidepressant and an anti-anxiety medication daily to help myself maintain optimal levels of performance. Depression can lead to a low feeling of self-worth for a person with a disability.

For sexuality, self-worth both causes a person to feel physically attractive and sexually desirable, and also results from these feelings. Fostering this interaction is particularly difficult when people are challenged with chronic illness in a culture that values health and hardiness and idealizes unattainable perfection in physical appearance. (Parish, 2002)

Due to having many surgical procedures, I have many scars covering different locations on my body. In addition to this, my kidney disease has aged my appearance. Societies' obsession with the perfect male or female body and youthful appearances has made it difficult for me to maintain a positive body image. I do not feel desirable or attractive enough to date. Combine a negative body image with immature social skills and a person with a disability could be alone for years.

Low self-worth is akin to low self-esteem. Many people with disabilities, GLBT or straight, live with low self-esteem. Schover said,

loss of self-esteem related to illness is another factor that can decrease sexual desire. Men often base their self-worth on traditional male roles of wage earner and sexual performer. If an illness threatens to interfere with job skills or erections, it is experienced as an assault against masculine role performance. Men also tend to withdraw emotionally and sexually if they feel ashamed by illness-related dependency. (2000)

Having a disability for many people, especially men, can be viewed as a weakness due to society's masculine ideal. Men feel less like a male sometimes when faced with a chronic illness for example. People that focus on this part of disability are allowing their disability to define who they are as a person. Just like a person who defines himself or herself by the career, they have. People who think like this need to be counseled that they are not the sum of their parts and that there is more to their identity than their disability.

What women focus on that leads to low self-esteem is different from men. "The conventional wisdom is that women focus more on changes in physical appearance." (Schover, 2000) Women tend to focus on self-image. "An element of self-image that appears to have more