Self-identity can be a hard concept to grasp for most people. Further, identities that lie outside of the strong currents of hegemony can be difficult and sometimes be seen as impossible to claim.
Many social mechanisms are in place in personal networks and institutions that disfavour identities viewed as deviant, such as homosexuality, transgender, and polyamory.
First-person authority becomes more complex when other factors enter into the equation, such as developmental disabilities because guardians ignore or deny availability for people to determine their own innate sexuality or gender.
Part of this stems from the concern of guardians that such identities will further compound and frustrate the lives of people with mental or physical disabilities, and isolate them further from the availability of sex and love.
The stereotypes surrounding disabilities need to be deconstructed and educational tools need to be placed in the hands of guardians about sexuality and gender so that barriers and limits to self-identity can be adequately removed.
Every single person deserves the opportunity to live their life with confidence and support for their true nature.
Our society has much work to do before we can truly regard ourselves as civilized.