Abstract

Set in the context of gender-based violence (GBV) perpetrated against neurodivergent women on the autism spectrum, this paper explores how language, context, and power wielded by some outsiders to our experiences have a huge potential to skew our narratives. Practitioners are central to our support and care, so the language that they use in order to facilitate this is crucial. It is argued that support offered should be bespoke and negotiated with the victim-survivor. The position argued by the author is that current support packages are frequently ineffective, as neurodivergent victim-survivors are perceived to be part of a homogenous group. This rendered it more difficult for the author to access key services, as language used by practitioners to frame her on multiple occasions has been unacceptable. This has placed and continues to place barriers in the way of accessing support and care. The intersections of her identities have been denigrated on numerous occasions, resulting in enormous anxiety around talking to any practitioner. Hers is a unique approach, which highlights language and examples imposed by practitioners on the author at key points throughout her recovery. The author demonstrates how barriers are placed in the way of essential and meaningful communication, which in her experience was particularly in relation to some GPs and consultants. These resulted in her being further traumatized and blamed due to her identities and having to change to different practices in order to manage triggers and access appropriate services. Using a critical feminist lens, this paper highlights the importance of education regarding [sexual] health, consent, and healthy discourse around sexual behaviors as essential, and discussion at all levels is critical to understanding how society permits unacceptable attitudes to prevail. It also demonstrates how a lack of meaningful communication can act as a barrier to support. Ultimately, we should be able to call out bad practice witnessed in the form of inappropriate comments and behavior.