A Glimpse at American Deaf Women’s Sexuality

Hannah A. Joharchi^1*, M. Diane Clark²

¹Department of Psychology, Gallaudet University, Washington DC, USA.
²Department of Education, Gallaudet University, Washington DC, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/psych.2014.513164                

Abstract

Research regarding Deaf and hard of hearing individuals and their sexual satisfaction is almost nonexistent. Available research focuses on negative sexual behaviors and misinformation, as opposed to sexual satisfaction and well-being. Researchers used a model of generativity—what Erikson describes as success—a feeling of accomplishment, to explore positive aspects of Deaf sexuality. Someone experiencing generativity contributes to society in a meaningful and collaborative manner (Hamachek, 1990). The current study explored Deaf women, their generativity, and their sexuality. Five Deaf women were administered the revised Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women (SSS-W) and discussed their sexual satisfaction in a semi-structured interview. Not only did participants display resiliency and generativity, but also they shared unique and positive aspects to Deaf sexuality.

Keywords

Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Older, Sexual Satisfaction, Well-Being, Sexuality

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Anderson, M. L., & Leigh, I. W. (2011). Intimate Partner Violence against Deaf Female College Students. Violence against Women, 17, 822-834. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1077801211412544
[2]	Anderson, M. L., & Pezzarossi, C. M. K. (2011). Is It Abuse? Deaf Female Undergraduates’ Labeling of Partner Violence. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 17, 273-286. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/deafed/enr048
[3]	Anderson, M. L., & Pezzarossi, C. M. K. (2013). Violence against Deaf Women: Effect of Partner Hearing Status. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 19, 411-421. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/deafed/ent053
[4]	Barnett S., Klein, J. D., Pollard, R. Q., Samar, V. J., Schlehofer, D., Starr, M., & Pearson, T. A. (2011). Community Participatory Research to Identify Health Inequities with Deaf Sign Language Users. American Journal of Public Health, 101, 2235-2238. http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300247
[5]	Bartoli, A. M., & Clark, M. D. (2006). The Dating Game: Similarities and Differences in Dating Scripts among College Students. Sexuality and Culture, 10, 54-80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12119-006-1026-0
[6]	Byers, E. S. (1996). How Well Does the Traditional Sexual Script Explain Sexual Coercion? Review of a program of research. Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 8, 7-25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J056v08n01_02
[7]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012a). Health Related Quality of Life: Nationwide Trends. http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/HRQOL/TrendV.asp?State=1&Category=3&Measure=2
[8]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012b). Measuring Healthy Days. http://www.cdc.gov/hrqol/pdfs/mhd.pdf
[9]	Clark, M. D., Carroll, M. H., Bartoli, A. M., & Taylor, M. A. (2009). Flirting to Rape: The Influence of the Traditional Sexual Script. In J. H. Ulrich, & B. T. Cosell, (Eds.), Handbook in Gender Roles (pp. 1-32). New York: Nova Science Publishers.
[10]	Fitz-Gerald, D. and Fitz-Gerald, M. (1976). Sex Education Survey of Residential Facilities for the Deaf. American Annals of the Deaf, 121, 480-483.
[11]	Fitz-Gerald, D., & Fitz-Gerald, M. (1978). Sexual Implications of the Deafness. Sexuality and Disability, 1, 57-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12119-011-9111-4
[12]	Fitz-Gerald, D., & Fitz-Gerald, M. (1985). Viewpoints: Sex Education and Deafness. Washington DC: Pre-College Programs, Gallaudet College.
[13]	Gilbert, G. L., Clark, M. D., & Anderson, M. L. (2012). Do Deaf Individuals’ Dating Scripts Follow the Traditional Sexual Script? Sexuality and Culture, 16, 90-99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12119-011-9111-4
[14]	Glannon, C. (1998). The Deaf Community and Sexuality Education. Sexuality and Disability, 16, 4. http://search.proquest.com/docview/235707658
[15]	Glaser, B., & Strauss, A. (1967). The Discovery of Grounded Theory. London: Weidenfield & Nicolson.
[16]	Gomez, M. (2011). Sexual Behavior among Filipino High School Students Who Are Deaf. Sexuality and Disability, 29, 301-312.
[17]	Hamachek, D. (1990). Evaluating Self-Concept and Ego Status in Erikson’s Last Three Stages. Journal of Counseling and Development, 68, 6.
[18]	Job, J. (2004). Factors Involved in the Ineffective Dissemination of Sexuality Information to Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. American Annals of the Deaf, 149, 264-273. http://library.ncrtm.org/pdf/J305.1493.01B.pdf http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/aad.2004.0025
[19]	Joseph, J. M., Sawyer, R., & Desmond, S. (1995). Sexual Knowledge, Behavior and Sources of Information among Deaf and Hard of Hearing College Students. American Annals of the Deaf, 140, 338-345. http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/aad.2012.0379
[20]	Kamieka, G., & Getch, Y. (2001). Parental Training and Involvement in Sexuality Education for Students Who Are Deaf. American Annals of the Deaf, 146, 3. http://search.proquest.com/docview/214478234
[21]	Laumann, E. O., Paik, A., Glasser, D. B., Kang, J. H., Wang, T., Levinson, B., & Gingell, C. (2006). A Cross-National Study of Subjective Sexual Well-Being among Older Women and Men: Findings from the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 35, 143-159. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10508-005-9005-3
[22]	McCabe, M. P., & Taleporos, G. (2003). Sexual Esteem, Sexual Satisfaction, and Sexual Behavior among People with Physical Disability. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32, 359-369. http://proxyga.wrlc.org/login?url http://search.proquest.com/docview/205935170?accountid=27346
[23]	Meston, C., & Trapnell, P. (2005). Development and Validation of a Five-Factor Sexual Satisfaction and Distress Scale for Women: The Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women (SSS-W). Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2, 66-81. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2859306/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2005.20107.x
[24]	Myers, C., Clark, M. D., Musyoka, M. M., Anderson, M. L., Gilbert, G. L., Agyen, S., & Hauser, P. C. (2010). Black Deaf Individuals’ Reading Skills: Influence of ASL, Culture, Family Characteristics, Reading Experience, and Education. American Annals of the Deaf, 155, 449-457.
[25]	Omansky, B. G., & Rosenblum, K. E. (2001). Bringing Disability into the Sociological Frame: A Comparison of Disability with Race, Sex, and Sexual Orientation Statuses. Disability and Society, 16, 5-19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/713662032
[26]	Pollard, R., Sutter, E., & Cerulli, C. (2013). Intimate Partner Violence Reported by Two Samples of Deaf Adults via a Computerized American Sign Language Survey. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 29, 948-965. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0886260513505703
[27]	Porter, J. L., & Williams, L. M. (2011). Intimate Violence among Underrepresented Groups on a College Campus. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26, 3210-3224. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0886260510393011
[28]	Robinson, L. D. (1979). Sexuality and the Deaf Culture. Sexuality and Disability, 2, 161-168. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01100787
[29]	Rohleder, P., & Swartz, L. (2011). Disability, Sexuality and Sexual Health. In P. Aggleton, P. Boyce, H. L. Moore, & R. Parker, (Eds.), Understandin Global Sexualities: New Frontiers (pp. 138-152). New York: Routledge.
[30]	Swartz, D. B. (1993). A Comparative Study of Sex Knowledge among Hearing and Deaf College Freshman. Sexuality and Disability, 11, 129-147. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01102192
[31]	Taleporos, G., & McCabe, M. P. (2002). The Impact of Sexual Esteem, Body Esteem, and Sexual Satisfaction on Psychological Well-Being in People with Physical Disability. Sexuality and Disability, 20, 177-183. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1021493615456