From misunderstanding towards recognition: narratives of autistic women and girls in news articles

Purpose This study aims to examine news article stories portraying autistic women’s and girls’ life experiences of being neurodivergent to gain a deeper understanding of their recognition in societal discussions. Design/methodology/approach The authors used narrative and inductive and theory-driven thematic approaches to analyse news articles. This study’s theory-driven data analysis phase was guided by Honneth’s recognition framework. Findings The analysis revealed dimensions of misrecognition in multiple spheres of life. These dimensions became visible, for example, as physical and social struggles, delayed or denied access to services and the desire to be openly autistic. The authors conclude that autistic women and girls are lacking recognition in society. Practical implications In spite of the increasing representations in the media, a larger understanding of the unique ways of being an autistic woman or a girl is needed. Practical implications for using the recognition framework as a tool for developing recognition will also be discussed. Originality/value Research on women’s and girls’ experiences of being autistic in news stories from the recognition perspective is scarce, particularly in the Finnish context. The media has a powerful role in society as an information producer. Combining the knowledge gap with the available data in the media, the authors provide windows on the narratives of autistic women and girls.