Abstract
Background:
Autistic camouflage describes how autistic individuals assimilate allistic behavior for societal acceptance, while White mimicry demonstrates how non-White individuals assimilate White identities. These coping strategies, although different, are significant for non-White autistic individuals. Understanding them is crucial for mitigating racial and ethnic biases in autism research and clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of addressing ethnic and racial identity assimilation.
Methods:
I used a critical autoethnography aimed at advancing the decolonization of research and fostering equitable knowledge production. This approach entwined personal narratives with theoretical frameworks, transcending mere depiction. Validation of findings through peer debriefing was instrumental, while my positioning as a multiracial Latina expounded the intricate dimensions of racial identity and bias within the study’s context.
Results:
The findings revealed the “dual masking phenomenon” in non-White autistic individuals, encompassing both White mimicry and autistic camouflage. These complexities reveal challenges within racially influenced societal contexts, advocating for tailored support for non-White autistic individuals. Narratives unveiled prevalent tokenism, microaggressions, privilege, epistemicide, and meritocracy within predominantly White autistic environments, uncovering systemic barriers and the pressure to assimilate Whiteness to access opportunities. The study underscores the imperative to question neutrality and rectify disparities within the non-White autistic community.
Discussion:
The inadequacy of relying solely on autistic camouflage among non-White autistic individuals within racially influenced societal settings is highlighted. Instead, adopting traits associated with Whiteness seems to offer a more effective approach. The “dual masking phenomenon” reveals this systemic challenge—the pressure for assimilation faced by non-White autistic individuals, worsened by the prevailing systemic racism in predominantly White environments, as illustrated in the results. Recommendations include incorporating racial factors into research by racializing the experiences of White autistic individuals, educating health care professionals on racial dynamics, and fostering resilience and racial stamina, to address disparities within the non-White autistic community.
Community Brief
Why is this an important issue?
Non-White autistic individuals often do not receive the same support and recognition as White autistic people. Most research and advocacy in autism are led by White individuals, which can overlook or misrepresent the needs and experiences of non-White individuals. This study examines how being non-White affects autistic people and how they are treated differently, aiming to bring more attention and fairness to our experiences.
What was the purpose of this study?
To explore how being non-White affects the experiences of autistic individuals. The study aimed to find effective ways to address and reduce the differences in support and recognition between non-White and White autistic individuals.
What did the researcher do?
I studied my own experiences, as a multiracial Latina, and talked with other non-White activists and experts to understand how interacting with White autistic researchers and advocates in Europe affected me. I looked at how non-White autistic people might adjust their behavior to fit in and how White people might influence this.
What were the results of the study?
The study found that non-White autistic individuals often use two strategies to fit in: one is changing their behavior to blend in with non-autistic people, and the other is changing their identities to act like White people, which adds extra challenges for them. It showed that having mostly White people in research and advocacy makes it harder for those with multiple marginalized identities to be recognized and supported. It also highlighted that pretending race is neutral when discussing autism, a common approach in research, can be harmful to non-White autistic people.
What do these findings add to what was already known?
These findings help us understand more about the differences in diagnosing and supporting non-White autistic people. It also points out that it is difficult to recognize non-White autistic people who try to fit in with White norms, not just those who change their behavior to mask their autism.
What are potential weaknesses in the study?
One weakness of the study is that focusing on my personal experiences might seem self-centered. To address this, including other research methods and a diverse group of people could give a clearer and more complete picture of the “dual masking phenomenon.”
How will these findings help autistic adults now or in the future?
Make White autistic researchers and others aware of how race and ethnicity affect non-White autistic people. Encourage including race and ethnicity details when talking about autistic people, which will help better understand our experiences. Improve how we diagnose and support non-White autistic individuals by reducing racial and ethnic biases. Create better support that takes into account the unique experiences of non-White autistic individuals.
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