First up on the myriad of things able bodied people have gotten wrong about disability; sexuality/sex.
Disabled people don't do relationships. They don't have sex, nor do they have any kind of sexual desires and any partner we may have will be our keepers instead of our partner
Disabled people don't do relationships. They don't have sex, nor do they have any kind of sexual desires and any partner we may have will be our keepers instead of our partner
This of course is absolute nonsense; and the erasure of disability and sexuality has been detrimental to how disabled people are seen in society. While Sanctuary was a positive example, they are few and far between. So let's talk about disability, sex and relationships in film!
Me Before You gives me hives. The narrative around disability and relationships is an absolutely appalling example to set for anyone who wishes to portray disability. Falling in love with your carer, deciding that life is better off not lived with a disability; Major Yikes. 
One I'm undecided on because I haven't seen it is The Sessions. It's about a man with Polio who wants to lose his virginity; so he hires a sex surrogate. From what I've seen in the trailer it looks like an interesting/funny take on sex and disability!
The Shape of Water. Another Big Yikes. A non verbal woman falls in love with a lizard creature science experiment. This link between disability, sexuality and monstrosity isn't something new but it is something we could leave in the past; again, incredibly commercially successful
What are some representations of disability and relationships/sex that you know about? Were they positive or negative? Have I missed any?? Let me know!
