ass kapitalI have an issue with autistic people, who are actually being p respectful, being painted as abusive and trolls. This is an easy way to silence marginalised groups, and it’s also effective because of existing tropes about autistic people:
The first is that we’re aggressive. When Simon Baron-Cohen labelled autism as “extreme male brain” he did a world of damage. It tied autistic people to the worst aspects of trad masculinity: aggression, arrogance and anger.
This is reinforced both when people see meltdowns but don’t understand that they’re a response to severe stress, and also when autistic children are labelled as disruptive and naughty.
Secondly, there is a stereotype concerning autistic men seeking solace on online forums that promote racism, sexism and homophobia. It implies that autistic ppl can’t change, nor be compassionate. Autistic ppl DO find comfort in a huge range of online communities.
So when people (inc Asha) respond to criticism from autistic people with this kind of dismissal, it feeds into a wider and more dangerous narrative. I want to acknowledge that trans, working class, and black and South Asian women & nb ppl face similar silencing and dismissal.
Well said!!
This reminds me of something you said a while back @pgzwicker , it was like “people think I am being rude, and I’m not and it is killing me” or something like that
Yes. This happens to me a lot. I literally have to talk in a higher pitched voice and somehow make myself seem small and demure and not confrontational just to ask questions most of the time. It’s exhausting. I’m not a mean person. Quite the opposite in fact.
dang good thread
International Badass Activists 