Queering autism: Heteronormative barriers to autism identification
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Date
2024-08-19
Authors
Dekker, Erin
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Abstract
Autistic people are everywhere and not limited by any intersection including race, religion, country or culture. Many of us experience social oppression and disadvantage. In this autoethnography, I explore some of my experiences navigating being “different”, even in today’s culture. This analysis highlights key areas where culture can have a negative impact on autistic people. From a transfeminist disability studies framework, utilizing queer theory and the neurodiversity paradigm, I explore the positive impacts of queering autism within my own life. Through personal accounts of queering, I highlight how some heteronormative barriers can be reduced in one’s personal life, with the potential also to be applied more broadly within culture. Implications of queering autism broadly include an application within the medical and psychological fields and government autism program changes. Utilizing autoethnographic accounts and stories from within my community, I discuss the barriers to autism identification among those with numerous identities that do not align with stereotypical white cis male-centred autism concepts within culture that have also had impacted me throughout my lifespan. The stories told advocate for inclusive research and increased funding to share the stories of marginalized voices, policy changes and community education initiatives. I conclude with the importance of queering autism to increase access to autism self-identity, particularly among autistic people who are not cisgender males.
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Keywords
Autism, Disability Studies, Autoethnography