From the time of preparations of my PhD. I'm leading qualitative research within adults (both sexes) with developmental disabilities. I carried out researches with adults as participants and informants, being in their early and middle stages of their adulthood.
In recent larger research (2007-2010) I observed, as (a tacit knowledge) some phenomena which was characterized by some valorised roles, given to adult with intellectual disability(ID) in a few families. In those families, women with ID, degrees mild (IQ 55-70 ) to moderate ( IQ 35-54 ) had important, responsible and accepted generative family duty, as the caregiver - babysitter for little children, of own studying or working siblings (cousins).This pattern and skills were not further transferred to other areas of independent living , such as into work opportunities. The roles and skills stayed in the circle of family roles. Maybe anyone has completed a similar research, has similar findings ? Maybe there are in your countries similar patterns of family life with adult women with intellectual disabilities? Please indicate and share the studies, authors or review publications on this topic. Thank you.
Yes Beata, it's about the same here. But it's only from my observation, not from research. I wonder if there is research conducted in this area, in this place at all.
You say: "The roles and skills stayed in the circle of family roles"; as baby sitters, or some cottage industries. This is a way by which these ladies will be protected, and not be bullied if they were to work outside the home.
Dear @Miranda, Thank you for an answer. I have a request, please let me know of any scientific works on this topic, If you'll accidentally find such, during the literature reviews for your research or own scientific studies.
Dear Beata,
I know very little about this issue. However, I looks like there are new ways of taking care of intellectual disabilities in Finland. People are encouraged to have an independent life of their own, they should study and do some meaningful work. In Finland intellectual disabilities should be treated with great respect. We have this very famous reality program called "Different friends", maybe it is already its 3rd year production. This program introduces their life and makes it familiar to Finns.
Dear Terhi, Thank you very much for an answer. I know Scandinavian traditions and the concept of normalisation, announced in 60. E.N. Bank-Mikkelesn and B. Nirje as well as American concept of social role valorisation designed by German, W. Wolfensberger. In Poland we are trying (after 1989) to implement a few foreign concept, ex. normalisation or social role valorisation. This pattern of babysitting and caregiving, I found accidentally in a few families, doing in depth interviews with 50 persons with DD. My informants perceived this as responsible role, not life inconvenience. I also noticed tacit placed lot of trust in persons with intellectual disability who are living with generative families, because taking care of little children is responsible activity.
Hello again Beata,
Again without any academic background, I just pick up these ideas from lived experience. I fully agree with you - let´s say - if the focus is on "traditional household systems" with families of strong and caring relationships. There is an active/needed role for each member of a family - in Finland we talk about family system of many members and generations (uncles aunts included) - so called extended family system. I suppose the background for this type of system is very practical. Firstly, there is/was not that much outside support from the society as such. Secondly, all the members of the family are needed for supporting the family in a way or another. I suppose this is a very common system in many countries especially in rural areas. The good point; there is this type of respect for everyone according to their practical skills and children grow up in a certain kind of immaterial richness gaining good social skills. However, if there is no supporting systems for education, these individuals (mostly females) might face hard life once getting old. I mean there might not be any one to take care of these women once they are old.
Dear Terhi, very nice observations, thank you for feedback and opinions. I really appreciate your remarks. We have in Poland relatively strong family ties support-care pattern for adults. Same time, exept this a lot to do, on systems' levels as education, work opportunities, for adults with intellectual, developmental disabilities (especially for women) to increase their wellbeing and happy lives.
Dear Beata, yes I observed same thing in my home country, But in my opinion nowadays for full intellectual peoples are difficult to take care on children and then what about those with disabilities. My suggestion is that we have to be very careful, calm, quiet, respectful, soft and smooth with those that have Intellectual disabilities, and never give them or command them to do such responsibilities. TQ
Dear Rahman, yes, of course, taking care of children is very responsible thing, for anybody. Those women I met during my field researches were surely prepared and educated in familiies about it. They were really proud having such active roles in the families. I agree with you, that such activities as babysitting and taking care of children cannot be treated as duties against will of young women with disabilities. This Polish pattern I observed, is interesting phenomena, probably based on different cultural traditions and customs than in your country. We had in Poland, before 90., also traditions of isolationism (in institutions) as trend toward persons with disabilities (what in fact was started by H. Goddard in the beginning of XX. century in United States). It is really important, that families gave such trust to those women and informal opportunities to learn skills as taking care of children. Todays Americans went further - I recommend this link http://sippinglemonade.com/down-syndrome-isnt-stopping-bryann-burgess/
Dear Beata,
I can not quote any studies but would venture to share a couple of personal observations/opinions:
1. The IQ level and the actual role that a woman plays in a family are not necessarily inversely proportional; their lack of high IQ is not the reason why they execute successful 'family roles; vice versa, their lack of 'family skills' is not the reason why high IQ women succeed in the work space.
2. From the conversations above, we can see that in Finland, Poland, South/Southeast Asia traditionally women are imparted 'family skills' and they remain central to the family in every which way. The only son of a colleague of mine, himself semi-literate, was successfully appointed to the Indian Administrative Service (a very highly respected central government service which is the backbone of government of India). The people in the neighbourhood felicitated him and asked his practically illiterate mother as to how she managed. The lady simply said that she could only impart to him the values that our society holds dear to its heart. Rest was achieved by the son. Irrespective of the IQ score, you would agree that this lady is hugely successful.
In yet another case, a middle aged lady who cannot spell 'school' runs a trust that owns nine schools/colleges. She has an MBA graduate from UK assist her manage the affairs of the institutions. She is also a grandmother and obviously has managed her family very well. These examples are just to reiterate my point that linking IQ to family roles of women would be to look at them in a very narrow perspective.
3. Roles that a woman is expected to fulfil are a matter of the context of a particular society. As educational levels rise, employment opportunities increase and economic compulsions dictate, more and more women will take to employment even in traditional societies. In the process they will also learn to balance family needs with that of their workspace demands. Like men, those of them with appropriate family atmosphere and drive (of course higher IQ), will smoothly sit in positions at workplace that were hitherto fore were in exclusive male territory. In my personal opinion, they have a better prospect of being a good boss owing to the intuitive abilities that 'family roles' have bestowed upon them.
4. In so far as higher IQ as the basis for venturing out is concerned, across the world, IQ or no IQ, it is the man who has been traditionally expected to assume 'bread winning' roles and women have generally been assigned 'home maker' role across all socities. The feminists may claim this to be male chauvinism and domination but I would prefer 'evolution' as the reason. This process of evolution does not distinguish between high or low IQ. It is a gender specific assignment.
I only hope this is of some use. Thank you for the opportunity. Have a great day!
Dear Srinivasan, thank you beautifully for contribution, I will think about these interesting cases you wrote.
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