Sexual rights, public policy and sex education on the discourse of blind people

Abstract

This study seeks to analyze how people with congenital blindness realize their right to sexuality. Eleven blind people participated, of both genders, aged between 22 and 54 years, enrolled in two institutions to support the visually impaired in the city of Feira de Santana/Bahia. There were interviews and focus group sessions, analyzed qualitatively, articulating empirical data and assumptions of bioethics. Three categories emerged: 1. The right to sexual expression, little respected; 2. Assessment of blind people regarding public policies focused on sexuality; 3. Reflections on sex education. The results revealed: feeling of dissatisfaction, disrespect from society to sexual rights; awareness and need to seek their rights; scarce public policies or not accessible to the blind people; need for appropriate sex education to their needs. We conclude that blind people are still invisible and vulnerable. We advocate sex education as a path to social inclusion.