Autism-Shaming: Is camouflaging an obligation or a choice?

Tassimo,

I don't camouflage or mask at all, instead I spell the truth out to people and scientifically prove to them that the problem is cultural prejudice, shun them for their participation in cultural prejudice and tell them I will always prefer to be autistic.

I remind them "normal" is a social construction meaning "abnormal" is a social construction, then point out it's their standard norms that marginalize people with perceived differences as well as autism out putting them at risk of discrimination and facing other bad attitudes from the society.

I then ask them; "Don't we hear some people say "I'm a bit autistic but not autistic enough."? Why do people say that, how is it decided whether they're autistic or not then point out to them it's decided by cultural prejudice, anyone who does not pass for their idea of "normal" is judged as there's something wrong with them."

I then back it up with other scientific evidence pointing out in the past the LGBTQ+ population were seen as people with psychiatric health disorders and ask them were they ever? They obviously respond with "no." I then ask them why were they labelled psychiatric health disorders and that proves it even further it's cultural prejudice, anyone who does not fit their standard norms.

I then use other conditions like Schizophrenia, I remind them all people experience Schizophrenic symptoms so how do we decide whether they have Schizophrenia or not, where is the line that it crosses from "normal" to "Schizophrenic"? Then again the answer is the line is determined by cultural prejudice, whether someone fits the standard norm or not.

I point out to them their hypocrisy, for example, if they claim we lack empathy for their side I remind them they lack empathy for our side. Spell out to them that all they have to say concerning communication and interaction works in both directions.

Tassimo,

I don't camouflage or mask at all, instead I spell the truth out to people and scientifically prove to them that the problem is cultural prejudice, shun them for their participation in cultural prejudice and tell them I will always prefer to be autistic.

I remind them "normal" is a social construction meaning "abnormal" is a social construction, then point out it's their standard norms that marginalize people with perceived differences as well as autism out putting them at risk of discrimination and facing other bad attitudes from the society.

I then ask them; "Don't we hear some people say "I'm a bit autistic but not autistic enough."? Why do people say that, how is it decided whether they're autistic or not then point out to them it's decided by cultural prejudice, anyone who does not pass for their idea of "normal" is judged as there's something wrong with them."

I then back it up with other scientific evidence pointing out in the past the LGBTQ+ population were seen as people with psychiatric health disorders and ask them were they ever? They obviously respond with "no." I then ask them why were they labelled psychiatric health disorders and that proves it even further it's cultural prejudice, anyone who does not fit their standard norms.

I then use other conditions like Schizophrenia, I remind them all people experience Schizophrenic symptoms so how do we decide whether they have Schizophrenia or not, where is the line that it crosses from "normal" to "Schizophrenic"? Then again the answer is the line is determined by cultural prejudice, whether someone fits the standard norm or not.

I point out to them their hypocrisy, for example, if they claim we lack empathy for their side I remind them they lack empathy for our side. Spell out to them that all they have to say concerning communication and interaction works in both directions.

Thanks Daniel for your insight. I've read a similar comment by yourself previously in which you linked different sexualities with different neurotypes, which is a highly accurate comparison to make in my opinion.

My only concern with this comparison is that, while it is true that the acceptance of different sexualities as increased in some parts of the world, low levels of acceptance (especially in less secular societies) mean that bullying and violence, physical and mental health problems, discrimination in employment, and underrepresentation in positions of civic leadership are still the norm for sexual minorities. I'm hoping for something better for autism!

That’s a really good explanation of the reasons for masking and useful to inform neurotypical people about.