Feminist and LGBTQ+ Studies

Abstract

This paper will explore the intersectional experiences of internalized ableism among transgender autistic adults, drawing on qualitative data collected from seven participants across the United States, the United Kingdom, and one participant from Greece. Using an intersectionality lens, this paper will examine how multiple dimensions of identity—including gender, race, disability, housing status, health, wealth, citizenship, language, sexuality, and neurodivergence—interact to shape the participants’ experiences with internalized ableism. The diverse sample includes non-binary participants, individuals with varying sexual and romantic orientations, and participants who differ in age, financial status, and immigration status. Participants' experiences with disability and neurodivergence also vary, encompassing conditions such as ADHD, Pathological Demand Avoidance, and mental health issues. Additionally, the impact of body size and fatphobia intersects with other marginalized identities in healthcare and daily life. This paper will reflect not only on negative experiences but also on positive experiences and perceptions of the participants, providing a well-rounded narrative of the participants. This paper will highlight the experiences of internalized ableism and how it is similar and differs from person to person and underscores the need for nuanced understanding and support that accounts for the complex interplay of intersecting identities. Through this intersectional approach, this paper will contribute to a deeper understanding of how transgender autistic individuals navigate their identities, experiences of marginalization, and resistance to ableist structures, with, importantly, a focus on both the positive and negative aspects of the participants’ identities. 

Biography

Jude Merit is an American transgender autistic multi-disabled PhD student at the University of Sunderland in Sunderland, England, studying the lived experiences of transgender autistic millennials. He has a Master of Science in Psychology from the University of Sunderland and a Postgraduate Diploma in Data Science from Leeds Beckett University. He lives in Sunderland, United Kingdom, with his wife, two cats, and roommate.