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Jayo
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26 Jan 2012, 8:37 pm

I've been pondering this one. I have heard that people from certain cultures, notably India and many East Asian countries, have a sizable negative bias against people on the autism spectrum, or people with disabilities in general. I read in more than one source that in the general East Asian culture, people with any kind of disability including and especially learning-related are considered a shame on the family and kept hidden from view, sent off to group homes or distant relatives etc to be taken care of. India is another story, it's a very social-Darwinistic country from what I gather, and I could see someone on the autism spectrum being considered an "untouchable".

I'm in Canada where it's very multicultural (as compared to X decades ago, or other Western countries) and people are encouraged to retain their cultural identity. In general, I've never experienced negative treatment from non-Western or non-Caucasian peers (I'm a Caucasian male), except in the workplace a couple of times. I had two managers in past jobs, one of whom was of East Indian origin, the other Thai. Both subjected me to scorn and ridicule, and the one of Indian background more or less regarded me as dirt, even spreading gossip and encouraging others to turn against me b/c of my ingrained differences. It's as if they thought an Aspie was an abomination, and I didn't get quite that same reaction from those more immersed in Western culture. Of course I don't inherently have anything against other cultures, colours, etc, but if they promote and act upon bigotry towards Aspies THEN I have a problem with that. To me, an intolerant jerk is an intolerant jerk, regardless of their more superficial attributes.

I'm also all about encouraging diversity in the workplace, but it's a two-way street. I'm concerned sometimes that the ongoing political correctness mentality favours some groups over others, and the favoured group uses that to their advantage, i.e. if I were to complain about their foul treatment, they might play "the race/ethnic card". But I reiterate: to me, an intolerant jerk is an intolerant jerk, regardless of their more superficial attributes.

Last year, I launched a thread on what it might be like to be an Aspie in Japan, with mixed comments made. But here, I'm talking more about eastern cultures in general, and also how their members in western countries might react towards people on the spectrum. So if you have insights or experiences...by all means post!



layla87
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26 Jan 2012, 8:49 pm

Well I haven't been mistreated in the same way that you have,
But with all do respect to other cultures, and I say this in general terms, certainly not applying to every person of that race/culture, that people from those parts of the world tend to be racist,sexist, homophobia and otherwise predjudice more than other cultures.
India and China are sexist towards women, Japan does NOT approve of foreigners ( it is very difficult to find a place to live in Japan, very very monocultural). And generally autism and homosexuality are not tolerated well either.
Of course these things are not exticnt in Western cultures either, but disability benefits and anti-discrimination laws are in place to make North America a more friendly place to live.
As mentioned before not everyone from those parts of the world are like that, but India, China and other Asian- South Asian countries are often still heavily rooted in traditions that are not conducive to a person's identity.

Bottom line discrimination and maltreatment is unaccpetable regarldess of the person doing it. I don't care what your gender, race or beliefs are. There is no excuse to treat someone like that. I WILL ALWAYS 100% OF THE TIME REPORT SOMEONE WHO DOES THAT TO ME.



fleurdelily
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26 Jan 2012, 9:35 pm

wellllllllllllllllllllll................ considering they'll abort their kid if it's the wrong GENDER, I can easily imagine they'd have some bias against someone considered "imperfect". Esp. if they only get one chance at having offspring. Wouldn't ya think? (just sayin')


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peterd
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26 Jan 2012, 9:38 pm

There's prejudice against us everywhere, but I guess the less tolerant of difference a culture is, the worse it's going to be.



169Kitty
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26 Jan 2012, 9:51 pm

I just watched a documentary Wretches and Blabberers (don't let the name throw you off it is a REALLY good documentary) on Netflix and in Japan an autistic 16 year old who is obviously very intelligent is not allowed to go to his local high school, he has to be home schooled. There was also a 30+ year old man with autism and his mother working to teach people with autism in Sri Lanka how to communicate via typing.


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Declension
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26 Jan 2012, 9:55 pm

Is it possible that certain cultures don't produce aspies? Certain mental disabilities are sometimes thought of as Western luxuries. Maybe it's true. Maybe in a harsher, more pragmatic culture, an aspie would be forced to change or die. I know that I have usually only made progress on my social skills when forced into harsh situations that I had to struggle with.

In a harsher culture, maybe people who are just a little autistic are forced to become more normal. But very autistic people are incapable of such change. They would be left by the wayside and shunned.



Jayo
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27 Jan 2012, 9:45 pm

Declension wrote:
Is it possible that certain cultures don't produce aspies? Certain mental disabilities are sometimes thought of as Western luxuries. Maybe it's true. Maybe in a harsher, more pragmatic culture, an aspie would be forced to change or die. I know that I have usually only made progress on my social skills when forced into harsh situations that I had to struggle with.

In a harsher culture, maybe people who are just a little autistic are forced to become more normal. But very autistic people are incapable of such change. They would be left by the wayside and shunned.


Well, I wouldn't say the lack of Aspies in a population is indicative of cultural influence - it would be more due to an earlier age of child-bearing and less education that goes hand-in-hand with that pattern. Some time ago, I'd proposed a theory on a separate thread that the reason why the number of people on the spectrum has risen so much in the Western World, is because the average age of child-bearing has gone way up every decade since WWII. Plus the level of education is higher. Contrast that with developing countries, where people have kids much earlier, and the instance of autism is far less.



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27 Jan 2012, 10:58 pm

I think that in Israel, every neurological or biological syndrome is looked upon with a certain amount of disdain.


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The_Perfect_Storm
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28 Jan 2012, 12:24 am

Yes. Australia. But it's not polite to say so.



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28 Jan 2012, 1:10 am

From my 41 years of experience with Autism while living in the United States is that we are hated with a passion. Teachers openly allowed NT students to harrass me, spit on me, beat me up, and even one time set me on fire. When I fought back I was treated and punished far worse than my NT counterparts. On the job I have been tormented without the tormentors being punished so I have had no breaks from the harrassment. The two years I have been without work has been the longest I have ever went without being tormented.


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ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo
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28 Jan 2012, 12:17 pm

I'm an American and I have been treated with so much prejudice, it's unreal! Whenever I go out, I do worry about something happening and crave the normal experience others have. I have experienced this in other locations but definitely not where I live now and I have pondered this. Although I find it daunting, it fascinates me. I wonder why it is so different here compared to other places I have experience with. It's all the same country, so what's the deal? I have reached the conclusion some places are much more backwards than others, even in the same country.



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28 Jan 2012, 12:53 pm

I think the better question is "do Aspies dispise certain cultures", as I'm sure there well be a correlation.


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28 Jan 2012, 12:55 pm

I despise the dominant culture. That's usually white males.


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28 Jan 2012, 2:19 pm

Another thing I like to add is the racial make-up of the people who mistreated me the most is:

Caucasions - Seem to hate me with a passion
African Americans - Are the most vocal against me also the meanist towards me even more so than the whites.
Latinos - Have met a lot of Puerto Ricans and Mexicans working in resteraunts have never made fun of me
Asians - Asians like the Latinos have never said anything mean to me but I have noticed some Indians seem to be a little afraid of me.
Native Americans - They keep telling me "You know in our culture autistic people become shamens."


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ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo
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28 Jan 2012, 2:22 pm

The ones who are nicest to me are African Americans. Then latinos, then whites. Mixed race people have been nicer than average, but, this is being very general. I notice when I go jogging, latino women try to be friendly.



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28 Jan 2012, 2:26 pm

I prefer mixed and chromatic people too. I'm mixed, but I pass as white.


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