Bulai, Elena (2022) Dealing with “Disorder”: Examining Interventions Aimed at Reducing Self- Stigma and Improving Well-Being in Gender-Diverse and Gender-Typical People with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Two Western social norms that greatly impact society at the individual and institutional levels are neurotypicality (most people do not experience neurological untypicalities) and cisnormativity (most people have a male or female gender identity that is congruent with their sex assigned at birth). Neurodiversity, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and gender diversity (GD) are two norm-defying concepts that affect one’s identity development process. While both ASD and GD have been studied separately, little is know about their interaction and effects on identity development. Thus, the current paper seeks to bridge this knowledge gap and further investigate what facilitates identity development of both gender-typical and GD people with ASD. A qualitative study and interviews GD people with ASD (n=5) were conducted. The thematic analysis framework was used to investigate the content of the interviews and three potentially beneficial psychological interventions. Findings indicated that the identity-related needs of GD people with ASD mainly revolved around having supportive environments (friends, family, professionals) and medical support (e.g. interventions for reaching a congruent physical appearance with their affirmed gender). The three interventions investigated were found to be appropriate for gender-typical people with ASD, in supporting their identity development process. Gender-typical and GD people with ASD need safe, open environments where they can explore their identities. Further research needs to focus on ASD and GD from a strengths perspective, since both concepts are forms of diversity deserving of understanding and appreciation.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Greaves-Lord, K. and Goedendorp, M.M. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Clinical Psychology (CP) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 17 Jun 2022 08:02 |
| Last Modified: | 17 Jun 2022 08:02 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/523 |
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