It makes me wonder though how much nerd culture is driven by forms of autism. Those wishing to end oppression women should be careful that they are not instead perpetuating the oppression of autistic people.
Those wishing to end oppression women should be careful that they are not instead perpetuating the oppression of autistic people.
A valid concern, but I think it's worth being careful not to lump all well-intentioned dissent onto the spectrum. I'd hate it if autism became a go to label for dismissal of social analysis that doesn't fit into someone's preconceived notions and narratives.
I have seen it a bit, and it's usually when people are locked into their ideological turf wars and get confronted with ideas that don't easily fit within that existing framework. It's ugly and presumes that non-complacence to norms that would prevent the idea from occurring is a sign of a neurological disorder and an excuse to dismiss the idea without giving it any thought.
I wonder if we could ever create a culture that doesn't oppress anyone (with the obvious exception of murderers, rapists, cannibals, etc). I hope so. But in light of our vast differences and the ease with which we hurt one another, I suspect we'll have to settle for a culture that doesn't oppress anyone too much.
Please, please, please do not help every nerd who experiences discomfort at being called out on sexism to believe they have some undiagnosed shadow syndrome and are being oppressed because of it. Please don't do that. If only because it would be profoundly disrespectful to people with real diagnoses.
It makes me wonder though how much nerd culture is driven by forms of autism. Those wishing to end oppression women should be careful that they are not instead perpetuating the oppression of autistic people.