Talks by Marianthi Kourti
In this presentation, I consider the overlap in our conceptualising of Autism and our conceptuali... more In this presentation, I consider the overlap in our conceptualising of Autism and our conceptualising of gender. I consider how the ways these have been constructed and storied over the years may affect the way autistic individuals perceive their own gender, as well as non-autistic individuals perceive gender in relation to autism. I consider these concepts to consist of a combination of material and discursive elements, which co-exist and influence each other, creating a complex and interesting picture that has yet to be fully understood and described.
Autistic individuals often have very little power in the creation of autism spaces. They are seen... more Autistic individuals often have very little power in the creation of autism spaces. They are seen as the service users whose needs are assessed and serviced by non-autistic individuals. Autistic professionals have tried to challenge that narrative in recent years, trying to include the autistic voice in the decision-making process both as academics and as professionals working with autistic individuals. This paper focuses on the unique identity of being an autistic autism professional and being in the intersection of two identities often considered incompatible with each other.
First of all, being an autistic autism professional comes with significant emotional labour. Employers often don’t seem ready or able to recognise the needs of an autistic employee, even if they provide extensive training for working with autistic service users. Presenting the autistic individual as only being the one in need ignores the needs of an autistic professional. Autistic professionals are faced with dealing with the ableist views of their non-autistic co-workers and the responsibility to address them. They are often treated in a tokenistic way by their organisation, a position which is very difficult to challenge for many reasons.
As members of the autistic community, autistic professionals are faced with the challenges autistic individuals face during and after work. They may have friends and loved ones who are frequently in crisis and face many barriers and, once in a position of a relative power, they feel a burden of responsibility for creating visibility and employment opportunities for their community, whose foundations as a community have been created by many hours of unpaid labour by many of its members. Simultaneously, they have to keep challenging institutions and organisations who may employ them about their inaccessibility to the autistic community as a whole.
Finally, autistic autism professionals deal with others’ internalised ableism, whilst constantly facing and challenging the damaging mainstream autism discourse and managing the nuances of stigmatisation. For all the above reasons, I think it’s important to talk about the contested identity of the autistic autism professional in a meaningful, intersectional way.
The history of autism diagnosis is full of gendered stereotypes. For decades it was considered a ... more The history of autism diagnosis is full of gendered stereotypes. For decades it was considered a mostly male condition, with predominant theories in the field, such as the Extreme Male Brain Theory, reinforcing that stereotype further. There has been an increasing interest recently on how autism presents itself in women and girls, which has only reinforced gendered stereotypes. This discourse has largely been set in place in the absence of autistic voices and consequently is an outsider's view of autism. On the other hand, autistic people and spaces seem to approach gender differently. In my own research, which was conducted on autistic individuals raised as girls, the participants stated that they don't identify with the typical presentation of the female gender, with many of them identifying themselves as bigender, agender, genderqueer etc. Similarly, in autistic organised spaces, such as Autscape, gender identity is not essentialised on taken for granted, rather individuals are encouraged to declare which gender they identify with. Autism studies also lack interdisciplinarity, with the majority of research funded focusing on children and educational interventions as well as a quest to understand the biology of autism. Research in adults is considerably disproportionate and there seems to be minimal focus on how to help autistic people develop a strong sense of self and identity. Autistic people are constantly, directly and indirectly, asked to change, control or hide key parts of their identity and living in a world where they are deprived of the human right for self-determination, they are short of words and discourses that truly represent them. This is also affecting how autistic people relate and understand their gender identity. Having an impaired self-awareness because living in an unaccommodating, non-autistic world as well as being unable to see oneself to common gendered discourses and experiences may lead to autistic people being unable to express their gender identity. Consequently, multidisciplinary and intersectional discussion on autistic gender are vitally important in order to help autistic individuals understand and express their gender identity.
This talk tried to address some of the stereotypical presentations of autism as well as some ster... more This talk tried to address some of the stereotypical presentations of autism as well as some stereotypical gender expectations of the modern society and how these might disadvantage autistic individuals, particularly women.
This presentation took place at the study weekend organised by the Autism Centre of Education and Research in the School of Education, University of Birmingham in March 2017.
In this talk I talked about the experiences of autistic women, drawing both from my own personal ... more In this talk I talked about the experiences of autistic women, drawing both from my own personal experiences as well as research that I have conducted. I also touch on how feminist discourses and actions might fail to recognise autistic women and what impact that may have on them.
This presentation took place at the study weekend organised by the Autism Centre of Education and Research in the School of Education, University of Birmingham in April 2016.
In this talk, I presented the finding of my MEd dissertation on autistic women diagnosed in adult... more In this talk, I presented the finding of my MEd dissertation on autistic women diagnosed in adulthood. The project consisted of an international sample of more that 50 women and I conducted online focus groups based on the participants' suggestions for discussion.
This presentation took place at the study weekend organised by the Autism Centre of Education and Research in the School of Education, University of Birmingham in April 2015.
This presentation summarises the findings of a project conducted by a research team I was part of... more This presentation summarises the findings of a project conducted by a research team I was part of which was lead by Dr. Andrea MacLeod. The project investigated the experiences of autistic university students at the University of Birmingham at different points throughout an academic year.
This talk was presented in a Research In Progress (RIPS) seminar at the school of Education, University of Birmingham in June 2016.
In this talk, I talked about the effects of getting an autism diagnosis on a person's identity an... more In this talk, I talked about the effects of getting an autism diagnosis on a person's identity and what factors might affect this process. This talk was presented in a professional development seminar by the Communication Autism Team which consists of professionals working with individuals on the autistic spectrum in May 2017.
In this talk, I presented the finding of my MEd dissertation on autistic women diagnosed in adult... more In this talk, I presented the finding of my MEd dissertation on autistic women diagnosed in adulthood. The project consisted of an international sample of more that 50 women and I conducted online focus groups based on the participants' suggestions for discussion.
This presentation took place at a meeting of the Specialist Women with Autism Professionals' network which is based in the West Midlands in November 2016.
Conference presentations by Marianthi Kourti
My slides for the NAS autism in women and girls conference.
The history of autism diagnosis is full of gendered stereotypes. For decades it was considered a ... more The history of autism diagnosis is full of gendered stereotypes. For decades it was considered a mostly male condition, with predominant theories in the field, such as the Extreme Male Brain Theory, reinforcing that stereotype further. There has been an increasing interest recently on how autism presents itself in women and girls, which has only reinforced gendered stereotypes. This discourse has largely been set in place in the absence of autistic voices and consequently is an outsider’s view of autism.
On the other hand, autistic people and spaces seem to approach gender differently. In my own research, which was conducted on autistic individuals raised as girls, the participants stated that they don’t identify with the typical presentation of the female gender, with many of them identifying themselves as bigender, agender, genderqueer etc. Similarly, in autistic organised spaces, such as Autscape, gender identity is not essentialised on taken for granted, rather individuals are encouraged to declare which gender they identify with.
Autism studies also lack interdisciplinarity, with the majority of research funded focusing on children and educational interventions as well as a quest to understand the biology of autism. Research in adults is considerably disproportionate and there seems to be minimal focus on how to help autistic people develop a strong sense of self and identity. Autistic people are constantly, directly and indirectly, asked to change, control or hide key parts of their identity and living in a world where they are deprived of the human right for self-determination, they are short of words and discourses that truly represent them.
This is also affecting how autistic people relate and understand their gender identity. Having an impaired self-awareness because living in an unaccommodating, non-autistic world as well as being unable to see oneself to common gendered discourses and experiences may lead to autistic people being unable to express their gender identity. Consequently, multidisciplinary and intersectional discussion on autistic gender are vitally important in order to help autistic individuals understand and express their gender identity.
About us: We are a group of autistic and non-autistic aspiring researchers interested in discussi... more About us: We are a group of autistic and non-autistic aspiring researchers interested in discussing autism, gender, sexuality, and identity from a critical stance. We seek to question normative assumptions about autism, gender, sexuality, and academic processes. About the conference: There is growing interest amongst both autistic and non-autistic academics, as well as in autistic (online) community spaces and discussions, concerning the intersection of the autistic experience with sexuality, gender, and identity. This remains, however, an under-discussed area within academia. There are increasing explorations of a neurodiversity paradigm, which holds that neurological differences are a natural form of human diversity, and that the assumption of a 'better, normal' brain is a fiction. There is also an increasing awareness of the cultural, social, and political tensions at work around autism. Therefore, it seems timely to organise a conference on this theme. This conference will be of interest to autistic and non-autistic individuals who may be students, activists, academics in autism studies, gender and sexuality studies, professionals who work with autistic individuals (psychologists, teachers, support workers etc.), allies and family members of autistic individuals. We welcome submissions from and about learning disabled autistic individuals. What we are looking for: We are looking for academic works, but also presentations that draw on personal or work experience, as well as artwork (see below). Everyone is welcome to submit and will be considered. We are especially interested in submissions from an autistic perspective. We welcome contributions in the following topic areas, although this is far from being a definitive list:
In this talk, I have combined my experiences as an autistic person, a researcher and a mentor for... more In this talk, I have combined my experiences as an autistic person, a researcher and a mentor for autistic university students discussing certain issues around autism and gender as well as emancipatory and participatory autism research.
Papers by Marianthi Kourti
Autism in Adulthood, 2018
Background: This article addresses a gap in current research by considering perceptions of gender... more Background: This article addresses a gap in current research by considering perceptions of gender within autistic adults raised as girls. Methods: We report on an online focus group, in which 21 individuals who had been raised as girls discussed their gender identities. This discussion was part of a larger study, involving 43 participants from eight countries. We used an emancipatory approach wherein participants set their own agenda, thereby highlighting directly that gender identity was significant for them. The discussion was open for 2 weeks, after which the transcript was analyzed using Applied Thematic Analysis. Results: Participants reported not identifying with typical presentations of the female gender for a variety of reasons, linked both to autism and to sociocultural expectations. Participants described childhoods of being a tomboy or wanting to be a boy, having difficulties conforming to gender-based social expectations and powerful identifications with their personal interests. Conclusions: Consideration is given to the ways in which autistic individuals conform to, or resist, gendered roles, as well as the implications for identity formation within autistic individuals raised as girls. The innovative emancipatory design proved effective in giving voice to a group who have had little presence within the academic and medical communities and, through its use of online platforms, in engaging a large and internationally based participant sample. This article highlights both the importance of approaching autism from an intersectional perspective that takes greater account of context, and the unique contributions that autistic individuals can make to current understandings within autism research.
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Talks by Marianthi Kourti
First of all, being an autistic autism professional comes with significant emotional labour. Employers often don’t seem ready or able to recognise the needs of an autistic employee, even if they provide extensive training for working with autistic service users. Presenting the autistic individual as only being the one in need ignores the needs of an autistic professional. Autistic professionals are faced with dealing with the ableist views of their non-autistic co-workers and the responsibility to address them. They are often treated in a tokenistic way by their organisation, a position which is very difficult to challenge for many reasons.
As members of the autistic community, autistic professionals are faced with the challenges autistic individuals face during and after work. They may have friends and loved ones who are frequently in crisis and face many barriers and, once in a position of a relative power, they feel a burden of responsibility for creating visibility and employment opportunities for their community, whose foundations as a community have been created by many hours of unpaid labour by many of its members. Simultaneously, they have to keep challenging institutions and organisations who may employ them about their inaccessibility to the autistic community as a whole.
Finally, autistic autism professionals deal with others’ internalised ableism, whilst constantly facing and challenging the damaging mainstream autism discourse and managing the nuances of stigmatisation. For all the above reasons, I think it’s important to talk about the contested identity of the autistic autism professional in a meaningful, intersectional way.
This presentation took place at the study weekend organised by the Autism Centre of Education and Research in the School of Education, University of Birmingham in March 2017.
This presentation took place at the study weekend organised by the Autism Centre of Education and Research in the School of Education, University of Birmingham in April 2016.
This presentation took place at the study weekend organised by the Autism Centre of Education and Research in the School of Education, University of Birmingham in April 2015.
This talk was presented in a Research In Progress (RIPS) seminar at the school of Education, University of Birmingham in June 2016.
This presentation took place at a meeting of the Specialist Women with Autism Professionals' network which is based in the West Midlands in November 2016.
Conference presentations by Marianthi Kourti
On the other hand, autistic people and spaces seem to approach gender differently. In my own research, which was conducted on autistic individuals raised as girls, the participants stated that they don’t identify with the typical presentation of the female gender, with many of them identifying themselves as bigender, agender, genderqueer etc. Similarly, in autistic organised spaces, such as Autscape, gender identity is not essentialised on taken for granted, rather individuals are encouraged to declare which gender they identify with.
Autism studies also lack interdisciplinarity, with the majority of research funded focusing on children and educational interventions as well as a quest to understand the biology of autism. Research in adults is considerably disproportionate and there seems to be minimal focus on how to help autistic people develop a strong sense of self and identity. Autistic people are constantly, directly and indirectly, asked to change, control or hide key parts of their identity and living in a world where they are deprived of the human right for self-determination, they are short of words and discourses that truly represent them.
This is also affecting how autistic people relate and understand their gender identity. Having an impaired self-awareness because living in an unaccommodating, non-autistic world as well as being unable to see oneself to common gendered discourses and experiences may lead to autistic people being unable to express their gender identity. Consequently, multidisciplinary and intersectional discussion on autistic gender are vitally important in order to help autistic individuals understand and express their gender identity.
Papers by Marianthi Kourti
First of all, being an autistic autism professional comes with significant emotional labour. Employers often don’t seem ready or able to recognise the needs of an autistic employee, even if they provide extensive training for working with autistic service users. Presenting the autistic individual as only being the one in need ignores the needs of an autistic professional. Autistic professionals are faced with dealing with the ableist views of their non-autistic co-workers and the responsibility to address them. They are often treated in a tokenistic way by their organisation, a position which is very difficult to challenge for many reasons.
As members of the autistic community, autistic professionals are faced with the challenges autistic individuals face during and after work. They may have friends and loved ones who are frequently in crisis and face many barriers and, once in a position of a relative power, they feel a burden of responsibility for creating visibility and employment opportunities for their community, whose foundations as a community have been created by many hours of unpaid labour by many of its members. Simultaneously, they have to keep challenging institutions and organisations who may employ them about their inaccessibility to the autistic community as a whole.
Finally, autistic autism professionals deal with others’ internalised ableism, whilst constantly facing and challenging the damaging mainstream autism discourse and managing the nuances of stigmatisation. For all the above reasons, I think it’s important to talk about the contested identity of the autistic autism professional in a meaningful, intersectional way.
This presentation took place at the study weekend organised by the Autism Centre of Education and Research in the School of Education, University of Birmingham in March 2017.
This presentation took place at the study weekend organised by the Autism Centre of Education and Research in the School of Education, University of Birmingham in April 2016.
This presentation took place at the study weekend organised by the Autism Centre of Education and Research in the School of Education, University of Birmingham in April 2015.
This talk was presented in a Research In Progress (RIPS) seminar at the school of Education, University of Birmingham in June 2016.
This presentation took place at a meeting of the Specialist Women with Autism Professionals' network which is based in the West Midlands in November 2016.
On the other hand, autistic people and spaces seem to approach gender differently. In my own research, which was conducted on autistic individuals raised as girls, the participants stated that they don’t identify with the typical presentation of the female gender, with many of them identifying themselves as bigender, agender, genderqueer etc. Similarly, in autistic organised spaces, such as Autscape, gender identity is not essentialised on taken for granted, rather individuals are encouraged to declare which gender they identify with.
Autism studies also lack interdisciplinarity, with the majority of research funded focusing on children and educational interventions as well as a quest to understand the biology of autism. Research in adults is considerably disproportionate and there seems to be minimal focus on how to help autistic people develop a strong sense of self and identity. Autistic people are constantly, directly and indirectly, asked to change, control or hide key parts of their identity and living in a world where they are deprived of the human right for self-determination, they are short of words and discourses that truly represent them.
This is also affecting how autistic people relate and understand their gender identity. Having an impaired self-awareness because living in an unaccommodating, non-autistic world as well as being unable to see oneself to common gendered discourses and experiences may lead to autistic people being unable to express their gender identity. Consequently, multidisciplinary and intersectional discussion on autistic gender are vitally important in order to help autistic individuals understand and express their gender identity.