”I Believe it can Change the Way Things Are”: Identity Construction among Video-Bloggers with Asperger’s Syndrome on YouTube
When considering such global issues as political and social stagnation, increasing global inequity and inequality, and the lack of participation of marginalized groups in global policy making, humanity’s geographical margins normally come to mind. Yet, a closer inspection would reveal that marginalized groups are often much closer to us, both geographically and culturally. Autistic people are not geographically marginalized. They live among us; they are members of our communities; they are our siblings, our children, our teachers, out friends. ‘They’ are part of ‘us’. Yet despite their proximity, they nonetheless remain marginalized; some would even say they are oppressed. There are many who believe that autism is a “problem”. This perspective is utterly ineffective. As my study demonstrates, when sufficient regard is given to the narratives, experiences and perspectives of autistic individuals themselves, it becomes evident that many of the difficulties experienced by people with autism are not the result of the innate condition, but rather mere consequence of social maltreatment. Such difficulties, as my thesis demonstrates, are no more inevitable, no more natural, than those which resulted from the obtuse, unfair, and often cruel treatment experienced by other marginalized groups throughout our history. The exclusion, seclusion, discrimination and abuse suffered by autistic individuals result primarily from misunderstandings, misconceptions, intolerance and ignorance. It is because of this that this matter must be addressed from a social perspective. Moreover, humanity can no longer afford to consider the unfair and unjust treatment of autistic individuals as a local matter. It is a global social concern, the solution of which principally requires a global social perspective.
”I Believe it can Change the Way Things Are”: Identity Construction among Video-Bloggers with Asperger’s Syndrome on YouTube
When considering such global issues as political and social stagnation, increasing global inequity and inequality, and the lack of participation of marginalized groups in global policy making, humanity’s geographical margins normally come to mind. Yet, a closer inspection would reveal that marginalized groups are often much closer to us, both geographically and culturally. Autistic people are not geographically marginalized. They live among us; they are members of our communities; they are our siblings, our children, our teachers, out friends. ‘They’ are part of ‘us’. Yet despite their proximity, they nonetheless remain marginalized; some would even say they are oppressed. There are many who believe that autism is a “problem”. This perspective is utterly ineffective. As my study demonstrates, when sufficient regard is given to the narratives, experiences and perspectives of autistic individuals themselves, it becomes evident that many of the difficulties experienced by people with autism are not the result of the innate condition, but rather mere consequence of social maltreatment. Such difficulties, as my thesis demonstrates, are no more inevitable, no more natural, than those which resulted from the obtuse, unfair, and often cruel treatment experienced by other marginalized groups throughout our history. The exclusion, seclusion, discrimination and abuse suffered by autistic individuals result primarily from misunderstandings, misconceptions, intolerance and ignorance. It is because of this that this matter must be addressed from a social perspective. Moreover, humanity can no longer afford to consider the unfair and unjust treatment of autistic individuals as a local matter. It is a global social concern, the solution of which principally requires a global social perspective.
