This was a terrific podcast. I have the greatest respect for Professor Attwood. His work has helped me enormously since my daughter was diagnosed in 2017. It is a relief to hear someone so well versed in autism talk about the interaction of autistic traits and the transgender community. I have noticed and wondered about the same things but any hint at disagreement with the dominant paradigmn of affirmation and medical transitioning is swiftly shut down.
Wow. What a great talk. I felt so much like the Aspie parent (although I don't have any diagnoses) at the end who wants to relax in silence and solitude at home, but needs to tolerate that her teenage kid loves loud music and friends over. Very good points and questions to explore the identity, like music and visual art. Need to look closer at it.
I would love you, Stella and Sasha, invite Prof. Tony Attwood for another talk about autistic teenagers who suffer from gender dysphoria I heard him saying on one of his videos, that he meets now teenage patients who he has known as autistic since they were small children, and when they hit puberty they suddenly report gender dysphoria and wish to change gender. I wonder if Prof. Attwood asks these patients what happened in their life to cause distress with gender, if he notices social contagion in his patients' change of identity, if he also sees more girls than boys with gender issues. Asperger's girls are good at observing and imitating, putting a fake persona to protect their vulnerability. Wouldn't it explain why some believe or claim they are trans?
I think it was silly and wrong-headed to get rid of the diagnosis of Aspergers. It was clinically useful, and people with Aspergers Syndrome did not seem to mind the diagnostic label, for the most part.
I disagree a lot of autistic people myself included didnt like the 'less autistic' that people associated it as. Also the connection to Aspergers and the natzis wasnt exactly beneficial.
Surely the surgeon is far more likely to appear with a child who socially transitions. That's why Cass is not positive about children doing this. I'm autistic and fairly sure I'd think I was trans, non binary if young now. So thankful I'm not! Still don't know who I am though, even now as a pensioner.
I find it fascinating to see how his political bias creates surprising blind spots within an otherwise very intelligent and informed mind. I see the same in Steven Hassan, ironically enough. My theory is that political parties are increasingly becoming high-control groups.
Well he is Australian, and Australia doesn't really have a left wing for his clients to be part of. They really only have a mass of people who are so disengaged from politics that they would see them selves as left, but are completely comfortable with their country interning immigrants in concentrations camps (yes), and various degree's of right wing/social conservatism. Like my country next door (New Zealand), they don't really have a left for anyone to find identity or companionship by joining.
I heard no political bias.. I find it fascinating that people will comment without truly listening to someone who is so demonstratively educated, intelligent and experienced in his field. It is rigid black and white thinking to assume that a person who does not agree wholesale with your political stance is necessarily part of the "opposite" political stance. All the evidence points to the conclusion that Prof Attwood is just a highly experienced professional whose observations have lead him to conclusions that are not 100% in line with your own. But if you listen closely you will hear him say he that autism and transgender can exist in the same person and that transitioning can be a good solution to a person's body dysphoria. All he is advocating for is caution. Any scientist would look at the sudden rise in their statistics as suspicious and worthy of further research.
@@lilith3953 That's a pile of crap, unless you live in Queensland where you have nothing but the fascist Murdoch NEWSCorpse to read, but there are lefties up there. Go join a union. You will find plenty socialism there.
As well intentioned as this guy seems, he’s woefully out of touch with the autistic experience. I found his views very patronising, stereotypical and misunderstood. Where I do agree is around the benefits peer to peer support. People like him are one of the reasons I support self-aware autistic therapists working with other autistic people seeking therapy, there’s certainly a need for this. Some of his recommendations like affirming gender explorations in autistic people is hap-hazardous because he seems to have overlooked how far people like me will go when we have something in our mind. Autistic people have an appreciation for factual information, so to convince us to go down an alternative route is to expose us to alternative facts. It certainly isn’t to encourage/affirm our facts.
Dr. Tony Attwood is the most balanced and reasonable person I've heard on this topic.
I love Tony Attwood, I feel he really gets autistic people! Thanks for having him on
Such a valuable episode. Explaining the position of individuals having autistic characteristics but not an autism diagnosis was very helpful
This was a terrific podcast. I have the greatest respect for Professor Attwood. His work has helped me enormously since my daughter was diagnosed in 2017. It is a relief to hear someone so well versed in autism talk about the interaction of autistic traits and the transgender community. I have noticed and wondered about the same things but any hint at disagreement with the dominant paradigmn of affirmation and medical transitioning is swiftly shut down.
Love Tony Attwood's work on women with autism (as one myself). So excited for this talk.
Wow. What a great talk. I felt so much like the Aspie parent (although I don't have any diagnoses) at the end who wants to relax in silence and solitude at home, but needs to tolerate that her teenage kid loves loud music and friends over. Very good points and questions to explore the identity, like music and visual art. Need to look closer at it.
I would love you, Stella and Sasha, invite Prof. Tony Attwood for another talk about autistic teenagers who suffer from gender dysphoria I heard him saying on one of his videos, that he meets now teenage patients who he has known as autistic since they were small children, and when they hit puberty they suddenly report gender dysphoria and wish to change gender. I wonder if Prof. Attwood asks these patients what happened in their life to cause distress with gender, if he notices social contagion in his patients' change of identity, if he also sees more girls than boys with gender issues. Asperger's girls are good at observing and imitating, putting a fake persona to protect their vulnerability. Wouldn't it explain why some believe or claim they are trans?
done and done! We interviewed Dr A in Ep 82 - gender-a-wider-lens.captivate.fm/episode/82-asd-gender-who-am-i-with-dr-tony-attwood
Very fascinating to listen to Tony Atwood!
I think it was silly and wrong-headed to get rid of the diagnosis of Aspergers. It was clinically useful, and people with Aspergers Syndrome did not seem to mind the diagnostic label, for the most part.
I disagree a lot of autistic people myself included didnt like the 'less autistic' that people associated it as. Also the connection to Aspergers and the natzis wasnt exactly beneficial.
Thank you for this interview
Surely the surgeon is far more likely to appear with a child who socially transitions. That's why Cass is not positive about children doing this. I'm autistic and fairly sure I'd think I was trans, non binary if young now. So thankful I'm not! Still don't know who I am though, even now as a pensioner.
I am the opposite. I was truly trans
I find it fascinating to see how his political bias creates surprising blind spots within an otherwise very intelligent and informed mind. I see the same in Steven Hassan, ironically enough. My theory is that political parties are increasingly becoming high-control groups.
Well he is Australian, and Australia doesn't really have a left wing for his clients to be part of. They really only have a mass of people who are so disengaged from politics that they would see them selves as left, but are completely comfortable with their country interning immigrants in concentrations camps (yes), and various degree's of right wing/social conservatism. Like my country next door (New Zealand), they don't really have a left for anyone to find identity or companionship by joining.
I heard no political bias.. I find it fascinating that people will comment without truly listening to someone who is so demonstratively educated, intelligent and experienced in his field. It is rigid black and white thinking to assume that a person who does not agree wholesale with your political stance is necessarily part of the "opposite" political stance. All the evidence points to the conclusion that Prof Attwood is just a highly experienced professional whose observations have lead him to conclusions that are not 100% in line with your own. But if you listen closely you will hear him say he that autism and transgender can exist in the same person and that transitioning can be a good solution to a person's body dysphoria. All he is advocating for is caution. Any scientist would look at the sudden rise in their statistics as suspicious and worthy of further research.
@@lilith3953 That's a pile of crap, unless you live in Queensland where you have nothing but the fascist Murdoch NEWSCorpse to read, but there are lefties up there. Go join a union. You will find plenty socialism there.
@@user-sr1kc6jj2b-p1q I truly listened. I think you may be projecting.
@@ac27934 I am not the one projecting.
I follow Tony for some years. He is an authority in autism but still his understanding of the trans movement and the grip on teenagers is limited.
Is there anyway of getting a transcript of this podcast?
As well intentioned as this guy seems, he’s woefully out of touch with the autistic experience. I found his views very patronising, stereotypical and misunderstood. Where I do agree is around the benefits peer to peer support. People like him are one of the reasons I support self-aware autistic therapists working with other autistic people seeking therapy, there’s certainly a need for this.
Some of his recommendations like affirming gender explorations in autistic people is hap-hazardous because he seems to have overlooked how far people like me will go when we have something in our mind. Autistic people have an appreciation for factual information, so to convince us to go down an alternative route is to expose us to alternative facts. It certainly isn’t to encourage/affirm our facts.
That's a really interesting point about people with ASD appreciating factual information, Dorothy. Thanks for your comment