Today’s episode critiques the pervasive "violence of erasure" faced by autistic and transgender individuals, particularly in the context of scientific studies and public discourse. The author, of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, describes a personal experience of a power outage, forcing her to a library, where she encounter a “good news” headline from Harvard suggesting a link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and increased autism/ADHD risk. Dr. Hoerricks deconstructs the methodological flaws and ethical implications of such correlational studies, arguing that they contribute to a narrative that pathologises and seeks to prevent autistic existence, which she describes as “soft eugenics.” Dr. Hoerricks also explores the contradiction of being simultaneously “unseen” due to autism and “hyper-seen” as a trans femme, highlighting the unique forms of violence experienced from both perspectives. Despite these challenges, she emphasises the resilience and resistance found in personal achievements and the act of continued existence, asserting that her unique voice and work challenge the narratives of erasure. Ultimately, the text is a powerful reflection on identity, systemic prejudice, and the importance of individual survival and contribution in the face of widespread attempts to invalidate certain lives.
Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/when-headlines-cheer-erasure-correlations
Let me know what you think.
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