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Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'
Unmasking Autism: The Power of Embracing Our Hidden Neurodiversity by Devon Price
4 reviews
jacksons_books_and_music's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
A must-read for Autistics, people who suspect they may be Autistic, loved ones of Autistics, people in the mental health industry, and also literally everyone. Among other helpful information, there are great resources on how to make public spaces and events accessible to Autistics and other disabled people. There is also incredibly helpful information on the support needs, including in communication, for Autistics and those who interact with us (which is everyone).
The writing and audio are extremely accessible and understandable. Information is substantiated with studies and many interviews.
The writing and audio are extremely accessible and understandable. Information is substantiated with studies and many interviews.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Child abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Transphobia
Minor: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Police brutality
jcinf's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
As much as I wanted to breeze through this, I had to take my time to fully digest everything the author said.
So many good, actionable “worksheets”/charts in here. I left them blank so I can go back to them and take my time filling them out.
The author’s recognition of multiply marginalized people and not applying blanket advice to unmask was good to see. And just acknowledging that it’s not always safe to unmask is great. Nuance makes me so happy.
Also with nuance: the awareness of getting a professional diagnosis and how it can be helpful or harmful, I love.
And the recognition of the value of self-diagnosing — or as the author says “self-realizing” made me feel seen.
Also with nuance: the awareness of getting a professional diagnosis and how it can be helpful or harmful, I love.
And the recognition of the value of self-diagnosing — or as the author says “self-realizing” made me feel seen.
One pet peeve: he called an individual Autistic person “neurodiverse” — instead of “neurodivergent.” One person cannot be neurodiverse.
Neurodiverse is a term that describes the diversity of neurotypes. Aka: a group of people.
Neurodivergent is a term that describes an individual who diverges from dominant societal norms.
All trigger warnings are mentioned but do not go into descriptive detail. They’re merely mentioned to create a well-rounded discussion on the intersecting “issues” surrounding Autism.
_______________________
Extended review:
Favorite quotes below. They’re long, but I like to write them down.
“I absorbed the idea, common to many “gifted” children, that a person’s intellectual potential belongs to society, not to themselves, and that they owe the world greatness to justify their oddness.”
“Neurotypical brains engage in sensory adaptation and habituation; the longer they are in the presence of a sound, smell, texture, or visual cue, the more their brain learns to ignore it, and allow it to fade into the background. Their neurons become less likely to be activated by a cue the longer they are around it. The exact opposite is true for Autistic people: the longer we are around a stimulus, the more it bothers us.”
“You cannot craft a comfortable or worthwhile life if you don’t know who you really are, or if your self-image is shaped entirely by rules imposed upon you by other people. Thankfully, it is possible to step away from defining yourself by the approval of other people, and by your adherence to society’s rules.”
“‘It’s neurotypical who categorized autism as a social disorder.’ Autistic people don’t lack communication skills, or a drive to connect. We aren’t doomed to forever feel lonely and broken. We can step out of the soul-crushing cycle of reaching for neurotypical acceptance and being reject despite our best efforts. Instead, we can support and uplift one another, and create our own neurodiverse world where everyone — including neurotypicals — is welcome.”
“We all deserve to take a step back and ask whether our lives line up with our values, whether the work we do and the face we show to others reflects our genuine self, and if not, what we might want to change.
When we accept individuals as they are, instead of warring with their unique needs and challenges, life can move at a more relaxed, accepting pace. A world that allows all Autistics to safely unmask is a world where anyone with strange interests, passionate emotions, environmental sensitivities, social quirks, or other differences is still seen as worthy and whole.”
“The opposite of alienation is integration. The psychological sense of connection and wholeness people whose identities are integrated can see a through line, connecting the many selves they have been across various times and places.”
“Stepping back and taking a look at my key memories and core values, I can see that I’m a dynamic powerful clearheaded person… I’m so different from the inept, powerless, clueless, needy, figure that I have always worried people might see me as I’m also nothing like the frigid passive intellectual, I’ve often masked myself as.”
All trigger warnings are mentioned but do not go into descriptive detail. They’re merely mentioned to create a well-rounded discussion on the intersecting “issues” surrounding Autism.
_______________________
Extended review:
Favorite quotes below. They’re long, but I like to write them down.
“I absorbed the idea, common to many “gifted” children, that a person’s intellectual potential belongs to society, not to themselves, and that they owe the world greatness to justify their oddness.”
“Neurotypical brains engage in sensory adaptation and habituation; the longer they are in the presence of a sound, smell, texture, or visual cue, the more their brain learns to ignore it, and allow it to fade into the background. Their neurons become less likely to be activated by a cue the longer they are around it. The exact opposite is true for Autistic people: the longer we are around a stimulus, the more it bothers us.”
“You cannot craft a comfortable or worthwhile life if you don’t know who you really are, or if your self-image is shaped entirely by rules imposed upon you by other people. Thankfully, it is possible to step away from defining yourself by the approval of other people, and by your adherence to society’s rules.”
“‘It’s neurotypical who categorized autism as a social disorder.’ Autistic people don’t lack communication skills, or a drive to connect. We aren’t doomed to forever feel lonely and broken. We can step out of the soul-crushing cycle of reaching for neurotypical acceptance and being reject despite our best efforts. Instead, we can support and uplift one another, and create our own neurodiverse world where everyone — including neurotypicals — is welcome.”
“We all deserve to take a step back and ask whether our lives line up with our values, whether the work we do and the face we show to others reflects our genuine self, and if not, what we might want to change.
When we accept individuals as they are, instead of warring with their unique needs and challenges, life can move at a more relaxed, accepting pace. A world that allows all Autistics to safely unmask is a world where anyone with strange interests, passionate emotions, environmental sensitivities, social quirks, or other differences is still seen as worthy and whole.”
“The opposite of alienation is integration. The psychological sense of connection and wholeness people whose identities are integrated can see a through line, connecting the many selves they have been across various times and places.”
“Stepping back and taking a look at my key memories and core values, I can see that I’m a dynamic powerful clearheaded person… I’m so different from the inept, powerless, clueless, needy, figure that I have always worried people might see me as I’m also nothing like the frigid passive intellectual, I’ve often masked myself as.”
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
kjoli's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria
jenny_librarian's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
A very interesting book about being autistic and learning to unmask and accept yourself.
Seeking an autism diagnosis as an adult is extremely difficult. Most people who don’t realize they are autistic before adulthood have low support needs, and have been masking all their life. It makes it incredibly hard then to figure out which parts of you are the mask and which are your true self. Despite the numerous green sticky notes I used when relating to autistic traits mentioned, I gaslighted myself throughout the whole thing, figuring that since I didn’t have it “that bad”, I must be appropriating an identity that wasn’t mine.
This book was illuminating on some points, but should definitely be used as part of a larger research if you think you are on the spectrum. It did include BIPOC and queer perspectives as well as those from people with other disabilities, something that not enough books and research do.
Seeking an autism diagnosis as an adult is extremely difficult. Most people who don’t realize they are autistic before adulthood have low support needs, and have been masking all their life. It makes it incredibly hard then to figure out which parts of you are the mask and which are your true self. Despite the numerous green sticky notes I used when relating to autistic traits mentioned, I gaslighted myself throughout the whole thing, figuring that since I didn’t have it “that bad”, I must be appropriating an identity that wasn’t mine.
This book was illuminating on some points, but should definitely be used as part of a larger research if you think you are on the spectrum. It did include BIPOC and queer perspectives as well as those from people with other disabilities, something that not enough books and research do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Police brutality, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Classism
Minor: Infertility, Slavery, and Suicide