Jesse and Katie explore the trending topic of autism in 2024, discussing self-diagnosis, controversies in advocacy, and the intersection of autism with gender identity. They also touch on Portland's unique quirks and debate manipulation in trans medicine research.
Autism is now trendy, embraced even without fitting diagnostic criteria.
The perception of autism has shifted from disorder to identity.
Neurodivergent encompasses diverse conditions beyond autism, facing challenges with negative connotations.
Deep dives
Autism Trending in Modern Times
Autism is no longer solely associated with severe cases seen in the past like in 'Rain Man'. Instead, it has become a trendy diagnosis, especially among women, even if they don't completely fit the diagnostic criteria. People are more inclined towards quirky or mild forms of autism, providing a sense of identity without major life disruptions. The shift towards embracing autism as a part of individual uniqueness is evidenced by the increasing number of autism diagnoses in recent years.
Evolution of Autism Diagnosis and Neurodivergence Movement
The concept of autism has evolved significantly over the years. Originally viewed as a psychiatric condition, it was redefined as a developmental disorder in the DSM-3 publication in 1980. The DSM-5 in 2013 introduced the term 'autism spectrum disorder' (ASD), placing individuals with varying degrees of autism under a single classification. Concurrently, the rise of the neurodivergence movement has promoted the idea that autism, along with other conditions, is not inherently negative but simply different.
The Neurodivergence Terminology and Social Stigma
The term 'neurodivergent' was coined in the 1990s to replace more stigmatizing terms like 'disorder'. However, similar to other euphemisms, the term 'neurodivergent' has also faced challenges of acquiring negative connotations over time. Neurodivergence now includes a broad spectrum of conditions beyond autism, encompassing diverse cognitive and sensory differences such as dyslexia, bipolar disorder, and even conditions like colorblindness or stereo blindness.
The Changing Perception of Autism and Its Diagnosis
The perception of autism has shifted from being viewed as a disorder to an identity, leading to more adults self-diagnosing and embracing the diagnosis. This change in perception has also resulted in the growth of an online community around autism. There are parallels drawn between the autism and trans communities in terms of self-diagnosis and broad diagnostic criteria that allow almost anyone to classify as autistic.
Controversies and Influences in the Advocacy for Neurodiversity
The advocacy for neurodiversity faces criticism for potentially harming severely disabled individuals due to policy influence by high-functioning autism advocates. The online autism community, similar to other social justice-oriented groups, experiences infighting and challenges around thought policing. Accommodations for neurodiverse individuals are juxtaposed with the need for adapting to social norms to function effectively in society.
This week on Blocked and Reported, Jesse and Katie discuss the hottest trend of 2024: autism. Plus, 30 seconds on that godawful debate, and Portland contiutes to out Portland itself.
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