Embrace Difference, Challenge Normativity: Towards a Neuroqueer-informed Ethic for Supporting Autistic Adults' Intimate Lives

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Huysamen, M., Hatton, C., & Kourti, M. (2026). Embrace Difference, Challenge Normativity: Towards a Neuroqueer-informed Ethic for Supporting Autistic Adults' Intimate Lives. Feminism & Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/09593535261422510

Publication date: 14 Mar 2026 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
3
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 3 (33.3%)
  1. Monique Huysamen
  2. Chris Hatton
  3. Marianthi Kourti *

Abstract

Research consistently shows that autistic people are more likely to identify outside of cisgender heterosexuality, highlighting the importance of supporting autistic people beyond neuronormative and heteronormative relationship imperatives. This paper explores autistic adults’ perspectives, using queer and neuroqueer theory, to examine how heteronormativity and neuronormativity operate together to constrain autistic people's intimate lives. It also considers how neurodivergence can open alternative, affirming possibilities for intimate relationships and support. Five asynchronous, text-based focus groups were conducted with a diverse sample of 46 autistic adults. Facilitated by an autistic researcher over 6 weeks, these were anonymous, autistic-only spaces. Data analysis included a participatory co-analysis phase. This enabled a rigorous, neuroinclusive qualitative research design that accommodated queer temporalities and enabled attention to intersectional experience. Findings show how neuronormativity and heteronormativity combine to constrain people's intimate lives over the life course, and how autistic people often bring a neuroqueering criticality to these norms. The findings reinforce the importance of care professionals moving beyond heteronormative, neuronormative, ableist understandings of sex and relationships to support autistic people to do relationships in ways that work for them. The paper offers concrete recommendations for practice and advances a neuroqueer ethic of care relevant to health and care systems globally.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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

Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:30.

Cited references
42
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
6 / 42 (14.3%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
14 / 105 (13.3%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 14 / 38 (36.8%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 13 / 99 (13.1%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
38 / 105 (36.2%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 33 / 99 (33.3%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
24 / 38 (63.2%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 24 / 105 (22.9%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 20 / 33 (60.6%).
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