Big ND Celebration Week news: My 1st PhD publication is out (early vers) in Human Development! Title: Conceptualising Autistic Masking, Camouflaging and Neurotypical Privilege: Towards a Minority Group Model of Neurodiversity. Thread translating to public: karger.com/Article/Abstra…
Nearly 3/4s of Autistic folks report masking & camouflaging [concealing Autistic traits/identity] (@DrEilidh & Troxell-Whitman, 2019). Reasons for masking/camouflaging include facing discrimination if appearing visibly Autistic--so why is Autism called an ‘invisible’ Disability?
@Noahsasson & Morrison (2019, p.51) found that masking (aka camouflage) is “stressful and exhausting” alongside being “associated with anxiety, depression, and poorer self-image”; and @DrMBotha & Frost (2020) argue these poor well-being outcomes reflect Autistic ‘minority stress’
If masking & camouflaging prevent otherwise visible Autistic traits from being seen, would the #Autistic community be better understood as a ‘visible Neurominority group'? If so: what can this tell us about the social drivers of masking & camouflaging, and barriers to unmasking?
My study found several structural/cultural barriers to unmasking including: Neurotypical Hegemony (cultural dominance), social discrimination against visible Autistic traits, & Neurotypical violence. I argued that Neurotypical Privilege is a key driver of masking & camouflaging.
I propose a new Minority Group Model of Neurodiversity—and the corresponding recognition of Autistic people as a visible Neurominority group. The foundations for which are laid by Autistic academic @WalkerSensei (Walker & Raymaker, 2021), who coined the term ‘neurominority’.
Therefore my #Neurodiversity study proposes a potential existence of a Neuroarchy: a hierarchical social structure like patriarchy with intersecting layers of inequality. As such, I propose new terms for: 1-Neuroism (Neurotypical elitism);
2-Neurophobia (fear of Neurominorities)
How can this study help Autistics?
1- Many say social exclusion/poor wellbeing = biological deficit; my study shows discrimination & assimilation play key roles
2- This opens the door to a #neurodiversity minority rights movement & legal protection for visible neurominorities
In 2018 Neurodiversity activists began TakeTheMaskOff: an online campaign asking why/how Autistics conceal traits of Autism--and how we can find solutions for unmasking. My study aims to answer some of the community's questions on these issues, & represent these views in research
A criticism of TakeTheMaskOff was its call for unmasking w/o recognizing the intersectional social drivers of camouflaging. Theorising a #Neuroarchy can help us see how #neuroism intersects w/ racism, sexism, & colonial & patriarchal social structures to drive masking/camouflage
Longer-term, my most fervent wish is that this study helps intersectionally informed conversations on the necessity of safe umasking re: social/professional inclusion, ABA, police violence, etc. Identifying/removing barriers to unmasking is key to better #Autistic quality of life
Many of the most vulnerable Autistics are those who can't mask at all (ie burnout or additional disability) or can't unmask safely. Recognition of visible Neurominority identities in law/social life will reduce the need to mask/camouflage, improving well-being & equity outcomes.
Does recognition for visible neurominority groups, & theorising a neuroarchy, mean we shouldn't see these groups as Disabled any more? Absolutely not! It just helps to identify the intersectional social structures that shape the lived experience of #Disability for Neurominorities
*How can my study move research forward?* I propose two new theoretical & conceptual definitions: Masking as the internal process of noticing visible Autistic traits within oneself and concealing them; &
Camouflaging as the external process of assimilating with Neurotypicality.
Currently the terms Masking/Camouflaging are used interchangeably but @lauralhull et al. (2018)'s ground-breaking CAT-Q assessment shows masking & camouflaging develop as 2 distinct processes. My study offers researchers social, cultural & theoretical context re: why this occurs:
1: Understanding that masking is necessary to conceal *visible* Autistic traits means that, in its absence, Autism is a visible Neurominority group.
2: Understanding Camouflage as assimilation with Neurotypicality to *avoid discrimination* shows us Neurotypical Privilege exists!
Pearson & @KieranRose7 (2020) & @milton_damian (2016) theorize Autistic people face minority stigma, and @drstevenkapp (2020, p.3) argues that people "not discriminated against [based on] their perceived or factual neurodivergences arguably benefit from neurotypical privilege”.
Sara Ahmed, Frantz Fanon & Judith Butler have established decades worth of social sciences research into masking/camouflaging/performativity--but these perspectives are excluded entirely from Autism research. My study bridges the gap between sociology & psychology work on masking
Building on these ideas, I show how neurotypes operate as socially constructed identity categories, separated partly by what our behaviour signifies to others about our brains, and their level of perceived ‘functionality’ & ‘ability’ relative to privileged Neurotypical behaviours
Singer's concept of Neurodiversity is indebted to the amazing field of Classical Disability Studies, & her insight into social inequality as an Autistic sociologist. But, 25 yrs on, #Neurodiversity is still seen mostly as a Social Model paradigm belonging to Disability Studies.
The next step: Just as Critical Disability Studies branched off from Classical Disability Studies ~25 yrs in, my article argues it's time for:
1- A Minority Group Model of Neurodiversity;
2- A new field of Critical Neurodiversity Studies;
3- Critical Neuro Theory
Who's with me?
A photo of 8yo me on my desk reminds me why I do this work: nobody should *ever* be forced to sacrifice their identity & health to simply survive. This #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek it's time for better for us all. Now excuse me while I cry cathartic tears of future optimism✊♾ Image

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