Introduction
Autism is a complex and diverse neurodevelopmental condition that affects how people communicate, interact, and perceive the world. Autism is also a cultural phenomenon that is shaped by different social and linguistic contexts. How autism is understood and represented in different languages and cultures can have significant implications for the lives of autistic people and their families.
In this thesis, the author examines written autism info materials from web searches and autism expert recommendations across Germany, Sweden, and the US. Making use of Conceptual Metaphor Theory and Critical Discourse Analysis, the different materials were analyzed with the help of code schemes by marking down conceptual metaphors and other ideological words.
The main research questions were:
- How is autism conceptualized and represented in different languages and cultures?
- What are the similarities and differences in the use of metaphors and ideologies across the materials?
- How do the metaphors and ideologies affect the perception and treatment of autism and autistic people?
Methodology
The author collected 30 autism info materials from each of the three countries, resulting in a total of 90 materials. The materials included web pages, brochures, leaflets, booklets, and videos. The materials were categorized into four types: general, diagnostic, therapeutic, and educational.
The author used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze the materials. First, the author identified and coded the conceptual metaphors and the ideological words in each material. Conceptual metaphors are expressions that use one domain of experience to understand another, such as “autism is a puzzle” or “autism is a spectrum”. Ideological words are words that convey a certain attitude, value, or belief, such as “normal”, “disorder”, or “cure”.
Second, the author calculated the frequency and distribution of the metaphors and ideologies across the materials, languages, and countries. The author also compared the metaphors and ideologies with the existing literature on autism discourse and culture.
Third, the author interpreted the results and discussed the implications of the metaphors and ideologies for the understanding and treatment of autism and autistic people.
What are the main findings of the thesis?
The thesis identifies and compares the most common conceptual metaphors and ideological words used to talk about autism in the three countries. Some of the main findings are:
- Autism is often conceptualized as a container, a thing, a disease, a disorder, a spectrum, a puzzle, or a difference. These metaphors have different implications for how autism is understood, valued, and treated.
- The container metaphor is especially prevalent and problematic, as it implies that autism is something separate from the person, something that can be opened, closed, filled, emptied, or removed. This metaphor can dehumanize autistic people and deny their agency and identity.
- The thing metaphor is also common and problematic, as it implies that autism is a static and homogeneous entity, rather than a dynamic and diverse phenomenon. This metaphor can oversimplify and essentialize autism, and ignore its variability and complexity.
- The disease and disorder metaphors are often used to portray autism as a negative and undesirable condition, something that needs to be cured, prevented, or eliminated. These metaphors can stigmatize and pathologize autism, and justify harmful interventions and practices.
- The spectrum and puzzle metaphors are more neutral and positive, as they acknowledge the diversity and uniqueness of autism, and suggest that autism can be understood and appreciated. These metaphors can promote acceptance and inclusion of autism, and encourage research and education.
- The difference metaphor is the most positive and empowering, as it emphasizes the value and potential of autism, and challenges the normative and oppressive assumptions of society. This metaphor can celebrate and advocate for autism, and foster self-determination and autonomy.
- The ideological words used to talk about autism also reflect and influence the attitudes and beliefs about autism in the three countries. Some of the main findings are:
- The words used to label autism and autistic people vary across languages and cultures, and have different connotations and implications. For example, the German word “Autismus” is more medicalized and stigmatizing than the Swedish word “autism”, while the English word “autism” is more ambiguous and contested than the other two.
- The words used to describe the characteristics and behaviors of autistic people also vary in their tone and perspective. For example, the German materials tend to use more negative and deficit-based words, such as “Störung” (disturbance), “Defizit” (deficit), or “Auffälligkeit” (abnormality), while the Swedish and US materials tend to use more neutral and strength-based words, such as “svårighet” (difficulty), “förmåga” (ability), or “skill”.
- The words used to express the goals and values of the autism community also vary in their orientation and scope. For example, the German materials tend to focus more on the individual and medical aspects of autism, such as “Diagnose” (diagnosis), “Therapie” (therapy), or “Heilung” (cure), while the Swedish and US materials tend to focus more on the social and political aspects of autism, such as “rättighet” (right), “stöd” (support), or “advocacy”.
What are the implications and recommendations of the thesis?
The thesis shows that language is not a neutral and objective medium, but a powerful and subjective tool that can shape our views of autism and autistic people. It also shows that language is not a fixed and universal system, but a dynamic and diverse one that can vary across languages and cultures. Therefore, it is important to be aware and critical of the linguistic choices we make when we talk about autism, and to consider their potential effects and consequences.
The author argued that the metaphors and ideologies in the autism info materials have important consequences for the perception and treatment of autism and autistic people. Some of the main implications were:
- The metaphors and ideologies can influence how autistic people and their families understand and cope with their own or their child’s autism, as well as how they interact with others and access services and resources.
- The metaphors and ideologies can affect how professionals and policymakers diagnose, educate, and support autistic people and their families, as well as how they design and implement policies and programs for autism.
- The metaphors and ideologies can shape how the general public and the media view and portray autism and autistic people, as well as how they respond and relate to them.
The thesis also suggests some recommendations for improving the autism info materials and the autism discourse in general. Some of them are:
- Avoid using metaphors and words that dehumanize, essentialize, stigmatize, or pathologize autism and autistic people, and instead use metaphors and words that humanize, contextualize, normalize, or valorize autism and autistic people.
- Avoid using metaphors and words that imply a fixed and singular view of autism, and instead use metaphors and words that reflect a flexible and plural view of autism.
- Avoid using metaphors and words that reinforce a medical and individual model of autism, and instead use metaphors and words that support a social and relational model of autism.
- Avoid using metaphors and words that promote a deficit and problem-oriented approach to autism, and instead use metaphors and words that encourage a strength and solution-oriented approach to autism.
- Avoid using metaphors and words that create a dichotomy and hierarchy between autism and non-autism, and instead use metaphors and words that acknowledge the diversity and equality of human experiences.
Conclusion
The author concluded that the metaphors and ideologies in the autism info materials are not neutral or objective, but rather reflect and reproduce certain cultural values and assumptions about autism. The author suggested that the metaphors and ideologies should be critically examined and challenged, and that more diverse and inclusive perspectives on autism should be promoted and respected.
FAQ
What is the theoretical background of the thesis?
The theoretical background is based on the assumption that language is not a neutral medium of communication, but rather a social practice that reflects and shapes the worldviews and values of different groups and individuals.
What is the theoretical framework of the thesis?
The theoretical framework of the thesis is based on Conceptual Metaphor Theory and Critical Discourse Analysis. Conceptual Metaphor Theory is a cognitive linguistic approach that explains how people use metaphors to understand abstract and complex concepts, such as autism. Critical Discourse Analysis is a social linguistic approach that investigates how language shapes and reflects power relations, ideologies, and identities in society, such as the attitudes and beliefs about autism.
What are some examples of the conceptual metaphors used in the autism info materials?
Some examples of the conceptual metaphors used in the autism info materials are: autism is a container, autism is a journey, autism is a difference, autism is a disorder, autism is a challenge, and autism is a gift. These metaphors use one domain of experience to understand another, such as using physical, spatial, or temporal terms to describe autism.
What are some examples of the ideological words used in the autism info materials?
Some examples of the ideological words used in the autism info materials are: normal, disorder, symptoms, treatment, cure, challenges, struggles, support, gifts, strengths, and talents. These words convey a certain attitude, value, or belief about autism, such as whether it is seen as a medical condition, a problem, or a positive trait.
What are some of the alternative or complementary metaphors and ideologies that could be used to describe and explain autism?
Some of the alternative or complementary metaphors and ideologies that could be used to describe and explain autism are: autism is a variation, autism is a perspective, autism is a community, autism is a learning style, autism is a human right, and autism is a neurotype.
How do the metaphors and ideologies in the autism info materials compare with the metaphors and ideologies used by autistic people themselves?
The metaphors and ideologies in the autism info materials may not always match or align with the metaphors and ideologies used by autistic people themselves. For example, some autistic people may prefer to use metaphors and ideologies that emphasize their identity, agency, and autonomy, rather than their disorder, challenge, or intervention.
How do the metaphors and ideologies in the autism info materials affect the representation and participation of autistic people and their families in the media and society?
The metaphors and ideologies in the autism info materials may affect the representation and participation of autistic people and their families in the media and society. For example, the metaphors and ideologies may determine how autistic people and their families are portrayed and perceived in the media, and how they are included and involved in the decision-making and advocacy processes in society.
How can the metaphors and ideologies in the autism info materials be evaluated and improved to better serve the interests and preferences of autistic people and their families?
The metaphors and ideologies in the autism info materials can be evaluated and improved by using a participatory and collaborative approach that involves autistic people and their families as co-creators and co-evaluators of the materials, and by using a critical and reflexive approach that questions and challenges the assumptions and implications of the metaphors and ideologies.
Source:
https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1831918&dswid=-2428