Introduction
This paper is about the evaluation and summary of an article published in the Journal of Sexuality and Disability in November 2000. The article, “Sexuality and the chronically ill older adult: A social justice issue”, is an attempt to describe and analyze the complicated relationship between the personal sexual behaviors and attitudes of an individual and the reaction and feedback of society toward the individual demonstrating certain sexual attitudes. Its authors are Verna Pangman and Merylin Seguire, both lecturers at the Faculty of Nursing of the University of Manibota. Being from a medical background, the authors analyze the issue by presenting the pathologies associated with certain sexual behaviors and their connections with reactions/feedback from the community toward the individuals presenting such behaviors.
Summary of the article
There is a broad agreement among scholars that sexuality is one of the key elements in defining human identity both on a personal and communal level. Some go as far as to make it one of the key factors determining the meaning of life itself (Pangman and Seguire, 2000). But there is a strong correlation in our culture between the sexual feelings, sexual life of an individual, and physical body shape.
Here is where the authors of the article raise their research question. They want to explore and analyze why “attitudes toward sexuality and sexual behavior have generated devaluing reactions from society regarding older adults” (Pangman and Seguire, 2000).
They go on to describe the strong paradigm that sexuality is something related to youth and most of the time is neglected or misunderstood by older adults. The authors here see a potential rising problem for society in general and the nurse community in particular. Since the portion of the adult population is increasing rapidly over the younger generation and their chronic health problems are doing the same, nurses will find themselves in a very difficult position shortly. Only those who have an educational background or training in gerontology or sexuality will be more able to consult older adults about these issues.
The rest of the nurses, given the current educational apparatus and what it transmits them, will find themselves in a difficult position (Pangman and Seguire, 2000).
The authors give practical examples of the problems in the current education of nurses and the lack of training they receive in this area. After this assessment, they continue to provide their solution to this problem. For Pangman and Seguire the only way to avoid the ‘crisis’ situation shortly, is to enhance research and policy development in nursing relating to older adults’ sexuality. They argue that “research and policy development are complementary avenues whereby sexuality can be made more visible for the older adult who is experiencing chronic illness” (Pangman and Seguire, 2000, p. 49). The implementation of such policies will ensure the recognition of the problem, the older adult sexuality behavioral disorders, and will also facilitate the recognition of the rights for this portion of society. All of this aims at enhancing the quality of life for these individuals and preventing social tensions. By doing so, the authors argue that these research and implementation policy efforts will have a direct impact on social justice.
Evaluation of the article
The authors of the article have posed a very interesting research question and very well presented their rationale and argumentation for the case. They have tried to tackle an issue that is not in focus in the nursing profession at the moment. This gives them credit along with the professionalism they have presented and argued their case. Nevertheless, there are certain points in the article that seem to be forced. One of the main points I want to stop is related to the critical evaluation Pangman and Seguire make to the existing nursing school curricula and their proposed solution. It is quite strange that the authors do argue very well the lack of preparation and training for nurses coming out of school about this issue, but instead of offering a solution related to education, they propose an increase in efforts in research and policy development in medical institutions. The main question that arises is how can nurses that have not been educated or trained adequately about such problems be able to design a policy that will tackle the problem. Furthermore, if the bulk of the nurses is not trained or educated about older adult sexual problems, how can a researcher base his / her policy implementation on them. Would it not be better if the nurses were the first to properly understand the issue the policy is addressing before they reach out to patients.
Conclusion
This paper was about a very interesting article published in November 2000 in the Journal of Sexuality and Disability by two prominent lecturers of the faculty of Nursing, University of Manibota.
The article relates to the coming of an important social problem, that of older adult sexuality. The authors argue the importance of such a problem and propose their solution to it.
References
Pangman, V. & Seguire, M. (2000) “Sexuality and the chronically ill adult: A social justice issue”, Journal of Sexuality and Disability, vol. 18, no. 1.