Disposable dispositions: reflections upon the work of Iris Marion Young in relation to the social oppression of autistic people
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This brief commentary piece looks to apply the theories of Iris Marion Young to the social position and oppression of autistic people, as previously theorised by Milton. The concepts of ‘Asymmetrical symmetry’ and the ‘Five faces of oppression’ are explored in this regard. The article concludes by arguing that autistic people, particularly those who have significant intellectual impairments, can be socially marginalised to the extent of occupying the social position of ‘non-human’ with the staggering consequences for social well-being that this implies.
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Autistic people have historically faced oppression.
“Indeed, autistic people have historically faced oppression [27] and, perhaps as a result, often experience internalised ableism–when disabled people internalise society’s prejudices and act accordingly [28].”
From Autistic adults’ views and experiences of requesting and receiving workplace adjustments in the UK (2022) · cites this paper as [27]
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- Authors
- Milton, D. E. M.
- Affiliations
- London South Bank University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Milton, Damian E. M.
- ORCID
- Milton, Damian E. M.
- Venue
- Disability & Society
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2016-11-25
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1403-1407
- ISSN
- 0267-4645 (ISSN-L)
- 0968-7599
- 1360-0508
- OpenAlex
- W2567616908
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 6.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Disability & Society (publishedVersion)
- Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Disability Rights and Representation
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Feminist Epistemology and Gender Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Down syndrome and intellectual disability research
- Keywords
- Iris Marion Young, autism spectrum disorder, oppression, five faces of oppression, social marginalisation, intellectual disability, social well-being, disability theory
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