A book on autism which pushes the trans rights agenda

[CatFeet]

I saw a thread on MN asking for book recommendations for autists. I looked up one that sounded good called Unmasking Autism, I’ve included the blurb from the publisher which is very misleading. Thankfully I read the reviews, and I’m deeply disturbed. The book is mainly devoted to promoting the author’s transgender ideology while trying to pass itself off as a helpful resource for autistic people.

Here is one review to give an idea:

’This could be a phenomenally helpful book, but the author has decided to use it as a platform to talk about their transgender agenda. Could have been so helpful, ended up as tremendously dull listening to their soap box.’

And another:

’I was enjoying this book, and I found myself trusting the thoughts, ideas and referencing. However, I am in new territory and so was building my trust in the author. It is my view that this author misrepresents JK Rowling in this book, and pointlessly, without any thorough referencing, and therefore, my trust has been undermined. I wanted to read about unmasking autism, and I was not looking to hear someone's views on the current gender/sex debates. I'll be returning the book.’

What on earth does JK Rowling have to do with Autism?

Dr Devon identifies as autistic. I don’t know if they identify as autistic in the same way they identify as being male

Ugh I hope ‘identifying’ as autistic doesn’t become a ‘thing’ for NT people. It’s caused me so much hardship in my life. I’m not saying that directed specifically at this author as I don’t know them whatsoever, but using the word identifying is a red flag and massively eye-rolly.

I hope so too - it must be so incredibly frustrating

Unfortunately every organisation I’ve come across for people with autism is completely captured :/

I’ve seen diversity monitoring questions that ask whether you “identify as neurodiverse”. It seems so insulting. It’s not something you can identify into and out of willy nilly. Would have made my life a lot easier if I could. Same with “do you identify as LGB”.

It has been for quite a while it goes hand in hand with the autism is a super power bs and being trans is a part of being autistic unfortunately. Most if not all asd charities and support groups are completely captured

I think if you look at the author’s wiki page (with accompanying references to their books), it is apparent that they are very much into self identifying autism and also seeing it as a ‘social’ identity. That’s not to suggest they don’t have a clinical diagnosis themselves, but yes I can understand your concerns.

It’s not something you can identify into and out of willy nilly. Would have made my life a lot easier if I could.

Exactly!!

Why did this happen? What does being trans-identifying have to do with autism? I’m in my 40s now so growing up the trans movement didn’t exist, so I couldn’t be indoctrinated into it as an impressionable youth. Have the TRAs targeted the autistic community as an ‘easy target’?

My 68 year old brother is autistic and he has had a really hard and lonely life. Autism wasn’t recognised when he was at school and my parents did very little about it until he was sectioned. I find the idea that anyone would even think about self identifying as autistic is both ridiculous and disgraceful. Sorry for ranting, but many people don’t understand the true reality of being ‘neurodivergent.’

I think identifying as ND is quite the thing these days sadly, you've only got to look at the number of MN posts which talk about someone or themselves as having non-diagnosed ADHD or ASD (quite often once they've been trounced in AIBU...).

I don't think it's unreasonable to say that you are probably on the autism spectrum but undiagnosed. This applies to me; I don't see much point in being assessed at my advanced age, as I've learned to live in a society that looks at life differently from me. The problem is when someone says they are autistic without having a diagnosis, and when they extrapolate from their own experience to other people's.

I think there’s a big difference to saying ‘I identify as Autistic’ v ‘Suspected Autistic but undiagnosed’. I totally get not going through the assessment process, and personally I don’t think anyone should feel pushed to get one. It’s not an easy nor pleasant process, especially for those with anxiety disorders for example, and also it’s well documented that women still fall through the cracks (Autism UK talks about this). But using the word identifying really gives me the creeps. It’s like it’s a fun little role-play or something.

I don’t know why autism groups are so heavily captured but it’s made finding books for my 11 year old DS tricky. Fortunately I have talked to him about the difference between sex and gender and that sex is immutable.

I do get the ‘identify as’ ND to a certain extent although I also hate the phrase. Having learnt more about ADHD especially how it presents in women since my son’s ASD diagnosis I am fairly sure I have inattentive ADHD. Waiting lists are so long though and other than ‘knowing’ I don’t think a formal diagnosis would change much to make it worth paying for a private assessment. I have OCD though and really dislike the ‘I’m a bit OCD’ thing people say. My OCD off medication means I’m unable to function, it doesn’t mean i like things to be tidy!

Cross posted @CatFeet and I do take your point as saying suspected but not formally diagnosed.

I think the way you’re describing it is totally different than the ‘I identify as ND’ with the ‘it’s my superpower’ sentiment. Like it’s just so fun and quirky. I don’t mean to try to police how people wish to think of themselves, with regards to ND, but it does grate when it’s the feeling of role-play. And yes I get you with how devalued words have become, and minimising, seems to happen with anxiety disorders quite frequently, and depression too.

I have a problem when people use it as a get-out-of-jail-free card for any bad behaviour.

Because those of us with asd are quite literal and are often gender non conforming and usually a bit "odd" we can be extremely vulnerable to the constant indoctrinating messages from school, councillors and social media that we are trans and will be normal when we admit it, mermaids even stated that transing can cure asd🤬.
1/3 of all gids patients are autistic and the majority are female, so rather than admit that they have been practicing a form of eugenics (however unintentionally) by sterilising autistic children who are struggling to deal with their changing adolescent bodies in the name of an ideology they (the TRAs) decided to actively target asd kids and claim that being trans is part of being autistic. Also we are now on the progress flag because it's all about identity isn't it🤨

How unhinged are you just seen the authorities is a trans man and so what he is saying that masking in autism is more evident in women or trans people or gender non confirming people and so bloody what. You may be anti trans but it's not pushing people to be trans it's written from a trans person perceptive maybe just looked at reviews all good. The only ones that aren't are in the nasty cult of those that hate the trans community. You may not agree with being trans but vome on

Absolute bull shit as what say you to the numerous trans men like this doc who js happy and well

@Northernlass44 please define "happy and well"

I asked because genderists like yourself often use words in a way most sane people wouldn't such as man, woman, genocide and literal violence.
However I would say that anyone taking cross sex hormones are in no way well infact I'd go as far as saying that they are harming their physical health and I'm not sure how anyone could be happy doing so

Yes cos all is that think trans people living their lives are fine all think the same don't we

The trans people I know are nice enough people. But they don't live their lives in isolation, and their choices affect all the people around them. Some of those effects are very damaging. But all their allies gather round to tell them they are the victims and that no-one else matters, because they are the most marginalised. In my experience, they have been listened to and put on a pedestal, while women, wives, parents, children are all ignored. Worse than that, we are told that our viewpoints aren't valid and that we are bad people.

I don't identify as a bad person, so please respect my identity!