Neuroaquilombar the Black and the Autistic to Decenter White‐Neurotypicality in the Workplace: Normal Is Just Another Word for White

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Benedetto, M. & Moraes, K. (2025). Neuroaquilombar the Black and the Autistic to Decenter White‐Neurotypicality in the Workplace: Normal Is Just Another Word for White. Anthropology of Work Review, 46(1), Article e70000. https://doi.org/10.1111/awr.70000

Publication date: 22 Jun 2025 Added to AutiHub: 20 Sep 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
2
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 2 (50.0%)
  1. Mayne Benedetto *
  2. Kátia Moraes

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article is part of the special issue “Laboring from Ex‐Centric Sites: Disability, Chronicity and Work” (AWR July 2025; 46(1)) edited by Giorgio Brocco and Stefanie Mauksch. Neutrality, epitomized as Whiteness, confers privileges that hinge on being neurotypical, equating neutrality with both Whiteness and the perception of normalcy. For individuals who are both autistic and non‐White, navigating this construct often means enduring intersecting forms of oppression. This article examines these dynamics through the personal narratives of a Black neurotypical woman and an autistic Latina in the workplace. Drawing on Critical Racial Studies, Critical Autism Studies, Whiteness Studies, and ethnographic research, we highlight the urgent need for collaboration across these fields. To advance this effort, we introduce the term neuroaquilombar, representing a deliberate approach to cultivating collective spaces that affirm cultural identity for Black and non‐White populations while embracing neurological diversity as a natural aspect of humanity. Through collaborative autoethnography as escrevivências, we reflect on the challenges of conforming to capitalist productivity standards in a society structured for the success of the White, able‐bodied majority. By recounting our workplace experiences, we aim to deepen understanding, foster connections that humanize diverse experiences, and issue a call to action for advocates in both spheres. Additionally, we seek to showcase new forms of engagement that transcend the extractive practices often associated with anthropological research conducted by non‐disabled White scholars.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 28 Oct 2026 01:01.

Cited references
83
With a DOI
54
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
28
8 / 83 (9.6%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
2 / 83 (2.4%)
References with detected author names
81 / 83 (97.6%)
Without detected author names
2
Without a structured title
0
Without a stable identifier
27
References with raw author names still to review
0
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
122
From DOI or external metadata
122
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
0
27 / 122 (22.1%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 95 / 122 (77.9%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
18 / 122 (14.8%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 18 / 27 (66.7%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 14 / 110 (12.7%).
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