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Meet the Experts
Russell ShuttleworthView this expert's archiveBiography: "Apparently everybody likes to talk about
sex if the proper context is created."
Since 1984, I have been a personal
attendant for many men with physical
disabilities including cerebral palsy. In this
intimate role, I have often been privy to
their feelings and thoughts on the pursuit
of sexual relationships. Thus, the
foundation of my perspective rests on
their disclosure to me of the problematic
nature of pursuing and developing sexual
relations. My initial perspective deepened
during 1995 and 1996 while completing a
series of life history and exploratory
interviews with several men who have
cerebral palsy. In 1997, I started the
formal interviews for this research.
I began a life history of Josh
(pseudonym) in the summer of 1995,
while I was preparing for my doctoral
orals. Josh was then 31 years old, a man
with severe cerebral palsy who uses a
wheelchair to move around and a head
pointer and alphabet board to
communicate. The most significant issue
in Joshs' life was his sexuality and the
barriers he said he faces as a man with
severe cerebral palsy in his pursuit of
sexual relationships.
I was deeply moved by Joshs' account
of his sexual situation. This experience
inspired me to interview several other
men with cerebral palsy. They mentioned
similar sexual concerns.
I combed the research literature on
sexuality and discovered that no research
looks at the sexually meaningful,
interpersonal experiences of people with
cerebral palsy from an anthropological
perspective. I am currently in the
interview phase of this research project.
Since the interview process is slower for
men with speech impairments, intensive
and concerns sensitive topics, I have
learned that they need to occur no more
than two weeks apart.
Continuity is often essential for
disclosure of the intentions and feelings
involved in their sexually meaningful
interpersonal encounters. I am delighted
with the candor and interest with which
participants approach the study.
Apparently everybody likes to talk about
sex if the proper context is created. I am
very appreciative of these confidences.
Presentations
Shuttleworth, R.P.
1996 An Anthropological Perspective on Sexuality and Physical
Disability. In Session: Disability Studies and the Concept of
Culture in Anthropology: A Critical Retrospective, Devva Kasnitz
and Carol Goldin, organizers. 95th Annual Meeting of the American
Anthropological Association, San Francisco, California, Dec.
Shuttleworth, R.P.
1997 Sexuality and Physical Disability in Sociocultural Context.
2nd Annual Disability Studies Colloquium, University of
California, Berkeley, April.
Shuttleworth, R. P.
1998 Experience and Meaning in the Pursuit of Sexual Relationships for
Men with Cerebral Palsy. 11th Annual Meeting of the Society for
Disability Studies, Oakland, California, June 5.
Shuttleworth, R. P.
1998 Engaging Anthropology in Disability Studies: An Ethnography of
Sexuality and Disability. 97th Annual Meeting of the American
Anthropological Association, Philadelphia, Dec.
Publications
Shuttleworth, R.P.
1993 The Rehabilitative Social Imaginary and the Dementia Patient
(abstract). Association for Anthropology and Gerontology
Newsletter 15(1):3.
Shuttleworth, R.P.
(in press) Symbolic Contexts, Embodied Sensitivities and the
Lived Experience of Sexually Relevant, Interpersonal Encounters for a Man
with Cerebral Palsy. In The Semiotics of Dis/ability: Interrogating the
Categories of Difference. Beth Swadener and Linda Rogers, (eds.) Suny
Press.
Shuttleworth, R. P.
(forthcoming) Experience and Meaning in the Pursuit of Sexual
Relationships for Men with Cerebral Palsy. Handicaps et Inadaptions
(French Journal), Catherine Barral, (ed.).
Shuttleworth, R. P.
(under review) Experience and Meaning in the Pursuit of Sexual
Relationships for Men with Cerbral Palsy. In Humanizing Disability.
Atwood Gaines and Wendy Mills, (eds.).
Lectures
October 14, 1997. Sexuality, Physical Disability and Anthropology. Guest
lecture presented to undergraduate and graduate students in Introduction
to Disability Studies, Dr. Marsha Saxton and Dr. Shelly Tremain, course
professors, University of California, Berkeley.
October 27, 1997. Issues and Barriers in the Pursuit of Sexual
Relationships for Men with Cerebral Palsy. Guest lecture presented to
undergraduate students in Health and Medical Issues, Jean Hsieh, course
coordinator, University of California, Berkeley.
InternshipsAND GROUPS
1986-1987 Social worker at Mercy Terrace, a low-income housing complex
for disabled and elderly persons in San Francisco.
1987-1988 Mental health counselor on the home treatment team at Geriatric
Services, Sunset District, San Francisco.
1989-1993 Developed and facilitated a weekly creative writing group for
elders at Mercy
Terrace, a low-income housing complex for disabled and elderly persons in
San Francisco. "A Creative Writing Group for Elders," MSW Thesis.
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