Abstract
In 1993, The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted and implemented the standards rules on ensuring the equalization of resources and opportunities for persons with disabilities inclusive of rule 9 on family and personal integrity. The purpose of the United Nations Convention on the equal rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD) is to promote and protect the fundamental freedom of all persons with disabilities by ensuring equal human rights, respect and inherent integrity.
Nevertheless, there are multiple barriers and inequalities that persons with disabilities still encounters such as exploring their sexual needs. Thus, the study explored the perspectives of adults and older persons with disabilities and their carer’s regarding the prospects of using sex care robots in Johannesburg. A qualitative research method was adopted to collect data on adults and older persons with disabilities and their carer’s. The research was conducted in two main phases to ensure an in-depth and comprehensive results. Firstly, the secondary data analysis was used to examine the existing literatures and to contextualise the topic followed by a multiple case study with purposely selected sample of adults and older persons with disabilities as well as their carer’s, allowing their in-depth perspectives on the possible use of sex care robots.
A research dissertation by article was followed with an introductory chapter, article 1 on the systematic review of sex robots followed by article 2 on the participant interviews, and a concluding chapter with recommendations, limitations, and gaps. The first article explored the experiences and barriers that adults and older persons with disabilities face regarding their sexual needs and exploration. In this respect, the literature has demonstrated that barriers stopping adults and older persons with disabilities from exploring their sexuality include societal stigma, ignorance of carer’s, lack of research, and unsupportive family members.
This research investigated on whether adults and older persons with disabilities and their carer’s find sex care robots useful or not. The findings showed that adults and older persons with disabilities prefers to form meaningful and intimate relationships with humans instead of sex care robots. They view sex robots as machines that could be used for medical purposes such as surgical procedures or be used for house chores such as cleaning and cooking.
This study supports the notion of sexual exploration among adults and older persons with disabilities with other humans instead of sex care robots.