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Current Call for Submissions

Sexuality
Deadline: September 15, 2022

Anne Finger (2015) noted that “sexuality is often the source of our deepest oppression” (as cited in McRuer, p.169). And, while autistic perspectives have gained more voice in recent years, perspectives on autistic sexualities have yet to be fully heard. This issue of Ought aims to collect a diverse set of pieces that explore, challenge, express, and question sexuality from an autistic perspective. It is our hope to produce an inclusive issue that shares the varying autistic experiences of sexuality.

In thinking about the diversity of autistic sexuality, Nick Walker first coined the term neuroqueer. Neuroqueer applies to any “individual whose identity, selfhood, gender performance, and/or neurocognitive style have in some way been shaped by their engagement in practices of neuroqueering regardless of what gender, sexual orientation, or style of neurocognitive functioning they may have been born with.” While we welcome pieces that neuroqueer, we also welcome pieces that value, question, or push against all sexual orientations and communities.

In order to emphasize inclusivity, we consider this to be an open call for any pieces that resonate with the topic. However, we also include a list of questions that may spark inspiration:

  • How is autistic sexuality portrayed in the popular media?
  • In what ways is sexuality expressed in autistic communities?
  • Does ableism stigmatize sexualities?
  • How has the medical model harmed autistic sexualities?
  • What are experiences of coming out?

References

McRuer, R. (2015). Sexuality. Keywords for disability studies. Adams, R., Reiss, B., & Serlin, D. (Eds.). (2015). NYU Press.

Walker, Nick. Neuroqueer: An introduction.” Neuroqueer.com. http://neuroqueer.com



The Internet
Deadline: March 15, 2023

For the past four years, the majority of our readers have accessed our journal online. This has led to a wide international, diverse group of Ought readers. In many ways, Ought’s community of online readership excemplifies the manner in which the internet has connected many autistic communities for decades. Technology, specifically the internet, has facilitated autistic connections and culture on many levels. Jim Sinclair (2010) notes that “During the past 20 years, facilitated in large part by the availability of the Internet, more and more autistic people have been reaching out and forming connections, creating community, and discovering our own styles of autistic togetherness.”

The pandemic made the internet especially vital by allowing us to work from home, communicate with colleagues, friends, and family via Zoom, stream media, and game online, all without leaving the living room. Social media has also led to dynamic modes of expression and connection across an international autistic community (e.g. #Actuallyautistic). This has created many opportunities, but it has also led to more isolation, increased bullying, and even new forms of addiction for autistic people. In this issue of Ought (4.2), we will explore, critique, and celebrate the autistic communities and experiences of cyberspace. We encourage a wide range of submissions (both in form and topic) that either consider the following questions or push in new directions:

  • How does the internet shape autistic culture and community?
  • How did Covid change how we use the internet?
  • In what ways is the internet a neurodivergent space?
  • What modes of autistic communication occur on the internet?
  • What unique harms do autistic internet face?
  • What is the relationship between autistic individuals and social media?

References

Sinclair, J. (2010). Cultural commentary: Being autistic together. Disability Studies Quarterly, 30(1). https://dsq-sds.org/article/view/1075/1248