Social markers of difference and the development of sexuality in people with visual impairments

The sexuality of people with visual impairments remains largely invisible and is rarely addressed in a didactic manner within family and/or school environments, compromising the development of their social and sexual identities. Taking this into account, the main objective of this article is to analyze how social markers of difference influence the development of sexuality in young adults with visual impairments. To this end, we conduct a theoretical reflection on the interrelationship between sexuality and disability, highlighting the importance of sexual education, and analyze the experiences of three young adults with congenital blindness. The methodology includes conducting interviews and content analysis. Overall, we found that the lack of quality sexual education that considers the specific needs of people with visual impairments negatively impacts all phases of their development. https://doi.org/10.21723/riaee.v21i00.1982302