Today’s episode critiques the prevalent narrative within autism advocacy, arguing that it often perpetuates a eugenics-rooted “Aspie supremacy.” This supremacy centers on a narrow archetype—typically a cisgender, white, verbally fluent, and academically-inclined boy—who is deemed “worth saving” due to perceived utility or brilliance. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, contends that this selective portrayal marginalises and erases the experiences of many other autistic individuals, particularly those who are non-speaking, multiply disabled, queer, trans, or otherwise do not conform to this “palatable” image. She highlights how this modernised form of eugenics infiltrates online spaces and advocacy, fracturing the idea of a unified “autism community” and prioritising brand-friendly narratives over genuine inclusivity and the diverse realities of autistic lives.
Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/he-would-have-had-me-killed-on-aspie
Let me know what you think.
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