There have been some truly excellent posts on the Hub lately, as well as elsewhere, so I thought I'd compile them in one big post.
At Turner & Kowalski, Linday takes apart the myth that autism is "the next step in evolution." Really excellent explanations of the science involved, as well as the potentially ableist implications of this ridiculous statement.
Two great posts from chaoticidealism: First, a post on "Artificial Diagnostic Categories," and then a post about why AS/autism is not a bad guy which takes away free will.
Another critique of "Life As An Aspergian Female" on John Robison's blog: In three parts, from Life With Asperger's. This series expresses my own concerns with phrases which describe "aspies" as "childlike" and whatnot. On a slightly related note, I really dislike the word "aspergian," on a purely aesthetic level. (In addition to my reticence to use words which favor certain kinds of autistics over others.) I don't like "aspie" much, either, and it's only from seeing the word so often that I'm able to tolerate. But something about the sounds and letters of "Aspergian" is just so off-putting to me. Am I the only one?
A slightly older post from A Life Less Ordinary discussing how the "autism is curable" myth can affect an autistic child, in real life.
Not specifically autism-related, but it is disability-related: spacedcowgirl comments on problems of representation in the new TV show, "Glee." I really like the show's musical numbers, but if the show is just going to keep being about disabled people/people of color/LGBT people literally singing backup for straight, white, able-bodied people, then I will be quite disappointed.
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5 comments:
"\I really dislike the word "aspergian,"
Me too.
You're definitely not the only one who dislikes the word aspergian.
I think at first, it was just an attempt to drop the demeaning "syndrome", but then why not just say autistic? Or asperger person/people if some clarification is needed?
It's so strongly associated with that weird mythology about aspergia, and how asperger's is apparently coming from a mutated gene that makes people superior.
One website actually said aspergain pride shouldn't be confused with autistic pride.
That pretty much says it all about their supremacist attitude.
The irony here is that they claim that aspergians have a natural talent for science and logic, all those Spock stereotypes, but the whole thing is such a ridiculous pseudoscience.
PS:
Thanks for mentioning Lindsay's fab post, we're really blissed she graced our blog with it.
Here is another terrific link:
A video from ABC (Australia) FORA: three people with Asperger Syndrome speak to the Asia-Pacific Autism Conference 2009
And wasn't it great that TH put his hand up and said that he had autism too. Maybe not so great that one of the classmates asked, 'Can autism be cured?' (and if you decide to watch the film above, Elise has some great comments about this at the end [30 minutes]).
Just wanted to jump in and say how much I am enjoying your blog, and your voice elsewhere. You express many of my feelings more effectively than I am able to, I think because I do not have a similar love affair with the written word. My fingers don't work well enough.
I'm really enjoying GLEE-- in part because I have a hard time believing Matt Morrison's character isn't gay. I had such a crush on him when he was in HAIRSPRAY-- but I am already disappointed in what little difference there is between the DIVERSE kids and the scenery.
I used to think that the only reason I resisted being called Aspergers was because it is just an ugly word and autism is so pretty. Now I am recognizing that I am too soft to be Aspie. But I am still prone to non-NT friendly leaps like this:
One I was in a play with a woman who designed costumes. The costume designer for the play disliked her and gave her a deliberately hideous costume. The actress-designer despised the current designer for her "lack of professionalism," so she refused to complain to the director. Instead, she asked is she could add a couple of accessories. He said, Sure, if he liked them. She went home and put together a more attractive shawl and hat that completely covered the offensive parts of the costume. I saw her glowering in the wings, waiting to go on for the director's certain approval, and said, "Nice costume." She replied, with a murderous smile, "I'm trying to kill it."
That's what I think about "aspies" and "aspergian." They are lame and ugly, but at least they cover up, "ass burger."
I'm really enjoying GLEE-- in part because I have a hard time believing Matt Morrison's character isn't gay. I had such a crush on him when he was in HAIRSPRAY-- but I am already disappointed in what little difference there is between the DIVERSE kids and the scenery.
I used to think that the only reason I resisted being called Aspergers was because it is just an ugly word and autism is so pretty. Now I am recognizing that I am soft to be Aspie. But I am still prone to non-NT friendly leaps like this:
One I was in a play with a woman who designed costumes. The costume designer for the play disliked her and gave her a deliberately hideous costume. The actress-designer despised the current designer for her "lack of professionalism," so she refused to complain to the director
Hi,
I have intensely disliked the word "Aspie" since it came into popular usage.
It is demeaning, too "cute-ifying", as if we're all fuzzy little creatures romping playfully through the woods and enjoy getting pats on the head. That's what the word conjures up for me, at least.
Aspergian sounds like something definitely from another planet, right out of science fiction.
While I often used the term Aspergers, the more I think about it, the more I think it should be scrapped as a hierarchical term and the only word used should be autistic.
Thanks for posting about this. I tried saying these same things on online boards 8 yrs. ago and pretty much got shot down for being an old crank. ;)
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