Self body image and sexuality in young blind students of a special public school in Feira de Santana, Bahia

Abstract

Six congenital blind adolescents, who attend the Jonathas Telles de Carvalho Foundation, in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil, agreed on participating in this research project, by answering questions on their self corporal image. The results showed that blind adolescents have true perception of their body image that is built up by listening to others and by touching their own bodies. In every blind adolescent interviewed, high self-esteem and self-perception of being sexually attractive were observed. In spite of being poorly informed about body changes in adolescence, the blind students are aware of those alterations. Similar to any young boy or girl who can see, the blind students hope to have a sexual and affectionate relationship with a partner. The lack of special pedagogical models in Brazil to develop their sexual education stresses their adolescence challenges and predispose them to more social prejudice.