Intersectional harassment and deviant embodiment among Autistic adults: (dis)ability, gender and sexuality

Intersectionality Within Critical Autism Studies: A Narrative Review

The aim of this narrative review was to examine intersectionality within critical autism studies. A growing body of evidence has demonstrated the importance of intersectional frameworks in highlighting the diverse experiences of marginalized communities. Many disability studies researchers investigated intersectionality to elucidate the impact of race, gender, sexuality, class, and other constructs on disability identification. Within critical autism studies, a field that emerged to challenge the deficit-laden, pathologizing autism discourses favored by the medical community, intersectionality has started to become an integral component of the literature. This review highlights intersectional frameworks utilized to explore autism in both academic and nonacademic contexts, to provide a foundation for future study. Upon analysis, we found overarching themes regarding the explicit, implicit, and descriptive approaches to intersectionality, racial and gender biases within critical autism studies, and the multidisciplinary nature of intersectionality and critical autism studies. We finish the review with recommendations for how to more fully address the experiences of all autistic people-particularly of racial, gender, and sexual minority individuals-in future study. Our recommendations include utilizing intersectionality as an analytical lens for describing previously overlooked phenomena and questioning central tenets of methodology and processes, including developing research questions, analyzing data, and writing results.

Are Autism Spectrum Disorder and Asexuality Connected?

Asexuality is a lack of sexual attraction to any gender. There is some evidence to suggest that many self-identified asexuals have a formal diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder which is characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, as well as by restricted and repetitive interests and behaviors. Additionally, the literature shows that asexuality and lack of sexual attraction or low sexual interest is overrepresented in people with autism spectrum disorder compared with neurotypical samples. Nevertheless, no studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between autism and asexuality in depth. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to examine whether asexuality and autism spectrum disorder are connected. We conclude that asexuality and autism share various aspects, such as a possible role of prenatal factors, reference to romantic dimensions of sexual attraction and sexual orientation, and non-partner-oriented sexual desire, but future research should explore and clarify this link.

The intersection of autism and gender in the negotiation of identity: A systematic review and metasynthesis

Influenced by theories of intersectionality, performativity and gender hegemony, this review sought to explore the intersection of autism and gender in qualitative research into autistic identity. Twelve papers were subjected to a thematic metasynthesis following a systematic search. Study participants were predominantly cisgender female or gender-diverse: perspectives of cisgender autistic males were lacking. The three superordinate themes developed related to: (1) the ways in which autism discourses restricted gender identities, through the influence of the “extreme male brain” and “masking” narratives and the use of autism to explain gender non-conformity and gender diversity; (2) the ways in which gendered autistic identities were positioned within social power hierarchies as “othered”, subordinate and less acceptable ways of being; and (3) possibilities for finding spaces of belonging and resistance. While autism as an identity may offer community and freedom from normative expectations, dominant autism discourses act to restrict and police gender, reinforcing existing power hierarchies. We encourage practitioners to reflect on the clinical, ethical and political implications of their positioning in relation to the constructs of “autism” and “gender”, and to explore alongside people seeking support the personal and political impacts of gendered autism discourses.

Discursos de Familiares acerca da Sexualidade de Sujeitos Autistas

Os diagnósticos de transtorno do espectro autista aumentaram consideravelmente nos últimos anos e, não raro, sujeitos autistas são considerados por seus familiares como sexualmente infantilizados ou descontrolados – fato este questionado pela psicanálise. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar discursos de familiares sobre a sexualidade de sujeitos autistas. Participaram desta pesquisa dezesseis entrevistados (dois sujeitos autistas, oito mães, três pais, dois irmãos e um avô de sujeitos autistas) todos inseridos em formatos familiares nucleares cujos relatos foram organizados a partir de uma análise de conteúdo temática e analisados a partir da teoria dos quatro discursos de Lacan. Os principais temas e discursos produzidos pelos participantes foram organizados em eixos temáticos que destacaram: as dúvidas e questionamentos justificados pelos descompassos entre o desenvolvimento psicológico, físico e sexual dos sujeitos autistas; a suposição da imaturidade biológica e das inadequações atitudinais dos sujeitos autistas nas questões sexuais; o reforço dos papéis tradicionais de gênero, delegando às mães os cuidados íntimos dos filhos autistas e delegando aos pais o estímulo pela virilidade dos sujeitos autistas do sexo masculino; mas também – principalmente por parte dos irmãos – a possibilidade de os sujeitos autistas vivenciarem suas sexualidades de maneira autônoma, mesmo que referenciados nos esquemas neurotípicos e heterossexuais. Neste sentido, as tensões entre os discursos do mestre e discurso universitário (que pretendem o controle) e o discurso da psicanálise (que aposta na autonomia/singularidade dos sujeitos autistas no campo da sexualidade) se mostraram os mais evidentes nas entrevistas. Por fim, a teoria lacaniana dos quatro discursos se mostrou propicia para compreender a constituição dos laços sociais que organizam as vivências sexuais dos sujeitos autistas.

Social inclusion of LGBTQ and gender diverse adults with intellectual disability in disability services: A systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and gender diverse adults with intellectual disability experience exclusion within disability services.

OBJECTIVE

This review explores the experiences of social inclusion/exclusion of this cohort in the context of disability services.

SEARCH METHOD

A systematic search was conducted of peer-reviewed research published between January 2014 and April 2019. Five databases returned 66 articles plus three from hand searches.

APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS

Nine articles were included in this review. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool was used to assess the quality of the research. NVivo 12 was used as a tool to organise the articles.

RESULTS

Marginalisation of LGBTQ adults with intellectual disability in western societies is mirrored in disability organisations. There remains a dearth of research into experiences of transgender people with intellectual disability who use disability services.

CONCLUSIONS

Research into interventions that support the inclusion of this cohort in disability support services is needed.

Can Law Address Intersectional Sexual Harassment? The Case of Claimants with Personality Disorders

Sexual harassment across multiple grounds, including race, disability, sexuality and age, remains an entrenched problem that is poorly dealt with in law. Prevalence rates for intersectional sexual harassment are higher for certain groups, while legal redress is low. This paper examines case law on sexual harassment in Australia where there are intersectional factors and asks whether the “intersectionality” section inserted into the federal Sex Discrimination Act in 2011 has impacted legal practice and decision-making. In particular, it considers the situation of sexual harassment claimants with behavioural and personality traits that are considered “disordered” and the specifically gendered disability stereotypes that shape their treatment in law. Recent cases in Australia dealing with the sexual harassment of people with personality disorders show that intersectionality provisions of sexual harassment laws may in fact be used to undermine a legal claim by a person with disability rather than strengthen it. This article argues that an intersectional legal feminist perspective on harassment is needed for the law to work.

Intersectional identities and dilemmas in interactions with healthcare professionals: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of British Muslim gay men

Individual interviews were conducted with six self-identified Muslim gay men living in London focusing on their experience of health service use. Transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Analysis identified two major themes: the close(d) community and self-management with healthcare professionals, detailing participants' concerns regarding the risks of disclosing sexuality; and the authentic identity - 'you're either a Muslim or you're gay, you can't be both' - which delineated notions of incommensurate identity. Analysis highlights the need for health practitioners to have insight into the complexity of intersectional identities, identity disclosure dynamics and the negative consequences of assumptions made, be these heteronormative or faith-related.