I am that name? naming neurotypical imaginaries of the sole autist in autistic/autism fiction

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 marker

Metadata sources used for this reference

OpenAlex Crossref
Learn more about the sources used

Bertilsdotter Rosqvist, H. & Nygren, A. (2023). I am that name? naming neurotypical imaginaries of the sole autist in autistic/autism fiction. Canadian Journal of Disability Studies, 12(1), 117-140. https://doi.org/10.15353/cjds.v12i1.974

Publication date: 21 Apr 2023 Added to AutiHub: 24 Sep 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) Full text OpenAlex source

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
2
Publication authors identified as autistic
2 / 2 (100.0%)
  1. Hannah Bertilsdotter Rosqvist *
  2. Anna Nygren *

Abstract

This paper explores neurodivergent readings of different fiction and non-fiction novels with explicitly “diagnosed” “autistic characters”, or what McGrath (2017) has referred to as ‘named’ representations of autism, and where “autism” is a central part of the plot. We discuss the impact of neurotypical naming and neurotypical texts; what explicit referencing to “autism” and “autistic characters” do in the case of fiction and non-fiction novels aimed at a predominantly neurotypical audience. We reflect upon what it means (and how it feels) to use an already established name (such as autism), and acknowledge its different routes and meanings associated with it. Our aim is not only to do a critical reading and discussion of neurotypical texts about autism and autistic characters, but also to find a collective reading practice where our experiences as readers are valued as research material, providing insights on how we occupy spaces, experience emotions, and inhabit the world. This is a way to challenge neurotypicality of the taken for granted “us” and “our” gaze in neurotypical texts.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

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: 2 Oct 2026 01:35.

Cited references
17
With a DOI
17
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
0
8 / 17 (47.1%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
0 / 17 (0.0%)
References with detected author names
17 / 17 (100.0%)
Without detected author names
0
Without a structured title
0
Without a stable identifier
0
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
41
From DOI or external metadata
41
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
0
26 / 41 (63.4%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 15 / 41 (36.6%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
17 / 41 (41.5%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 17 / 26 (65.4%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 14 / 35 (40.0%).
  2. Stuart Murray (2006). Autism and the Contemporary Sentimental: Fiction and the Narrative Fascination of the Present . Literature and Medicine, 25(1), 24-45. Project MUSE.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1353/lm.2006.0025 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1983394423
    OpenAlex
  3. G. Thomas Couser , Rosemarie Garland Thomson (1999). Extraordinary Bodies: Figuring Physical Disability in American Culture and Literature . MELUS, 24(3), 183. Oxford University Press (OUP).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.2307/468051 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2026310247
    OpenAlex
  6. Daniel G. Solórzano , Tara J. Yosso (2002). Critical Race Methodology: Counter-Storytelling as an Analytical Framework for Education Research . Qualitative Inquiry, 8(1), 23-44. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1177/107780040200800103 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2166105101
    OpenAlex
  7. Carolyn Ogburn (2016). Imagining autism: fiction and stereotypes on the spectrum . Disability & Society, 31(9), 1311-1313. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/09687599.2016.1219524 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2513696440
    OpenAlex
  8. Jennifer Cross (2017). NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity . Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 38(2), 119-119. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health).
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1097/dbp.0000000000000378 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2567564743
    OpenAlex
  9. MAJIA HOLMER NADESAN (2010). Constructing Autism: A Brief Genealogy . In Autism and Representation (pp. 86-104). Routledge.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.4324/9780203935088-9 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2592065966
    OpenAlex
  10. Leni Van Goidsenhoven (2017). ‘Autie-Biographies’: Life Writing Genres and Strategies from an Autistic Perspective . Journal of Language, Literature and Culture, 64(2), 79-95. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/20512856.2017.1348054 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2739819296
    OpenAlex
  11. Christa Mullis (2019). Reflection: Autistic-Coded Characters and Fans in Fandom . Canadian Journal of Disability Studies, 8(2), 147-156. University of Waterloo.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.15353/cjds.v8i2.495 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2943032334
    OpenAlex
  13. Anna Stenning * (2020). Understanding empathy through a study of autistic life writing . In Neurodiversity Studies (pp. 108-124). Routledge.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.4324/9780429322297-11 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3033949106
    OpenAlex
  14. Kimberly Maich , Christina Belcher , Adam W. J. Davies , Jill Rose , Tricia van Rhijn (2022). Pathology persists and stigma stays: representations of (autistic) Stephen Greaves in the post-apocalyptic world . Disability & Society, 37(6), 955-971. Informa UK Limited.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1080/09687599.2020.1862641 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3114541252
    OpenAlex