The Power of Community-Generated Data for an Epistemic Shift in Autistic Sexuality
This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. two authors of this publication are identified as autistic in the project.
About the autistic author markerRocha, S. & Benedetto, M. (2024). The Power of Community-Generated Data for an Epistemic Shift in Autistic Sexuality. In Exploring Autistic Sexualities, Relationality, and Genders (1st ed., pp. 59-76). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003440154-7 · ISBN : 9781003440154 · Place of publication : London
Book containing this chapter, also included in AutiHub
- Rosqvist, H. B., Day, D. A., & Krazinski, M. (2024). Exploring Autistic Sexualities, Relationality, and Genders
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Authors
Abstract
The research presented in this chapter adopts a community-driven data framework, with collaboration between autistic advocates and researchers, involving 160 participants primarily from Portuguese-speaking countries. Through an online survey, insights were collected from autistic women and nonbinary individuals regarding sexuality, sex education, sensory challenges, and experiences of sexual violence. Thematic analysis of qualitative data on sensory experiences revealed several emergent topics, shedding light on autistic perspectives on sexuality and relationships. Key themes include feelings of overwhelm, experiences of dissociation (“shutdown”), challenges in providing informed consent, difficulties in identifying and expressing emotional and sensory needs prior to autism diagnosis, and a lack of adapted and inclusive sex education. The chosen methodology initiates a dialogue on the need for an epistemic shift to demedicalise research in this area. By centering the voices within the autistic community, we aim to promote neuroaffirming perspectives on autistic sexuality. This research underscores the importance of community-driven approaches in shaping research agendas and advocating for inclusive and supportive environments for autistic individuals.
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