Working with Autistic Transgender and Non-Binary People: Research, Practice and Experience. Marianthi Kourti (Ed.), 2021 Jessica Kingsley Publishers £19.99 (pbk), 208 pp. ISBN: 9781787750227
Autistic transgender and non-binary people know who they are and what they need, and everyone whose work is for or about them should listen to their perspectives and work alongside them in their journey of self-discovery, however unconventional this may be perceived to be. (Kourti, 2021, 9)
This quote neatly summarises the focus and intent of this edited volume of 12 chapters written by a range of authors with differing personal and professional backgrounds. The editor, Marianthi Kourti (2021), is a Ph.D researcher at the University of Birmingham, and presents themself as well-informed and personally invested in the topics included within this book. As part of their M.Ed and Ph.D research, Kourti, an autistic, non-binary, interdisciplinary academic, investigated the experiences of autistic adults and how they form a sense of gender identity.
Gender identification for autistic people has been plagued with misinformation and a lack of understanding. Evidence suggests that there may be a greater gender diversity in the autistic population compared to the general population (Glidden et al., 2016; Corbett et al., 2023). However, research into gender-diverse autistic people, including those who identify as transgender and non-binary, began only relatively recently and this area is still under-researched. This book contributes towards this emerging research area and aims to inform a wide range of practice, including clinical, activist, and social care, through a variety of topics written by a diverse range of authors. This book would be both relevant and beneficial to readers and professionals from a range of backgrounds, including medical clinicians, educators, psychologists, carers, and social workers.
This edited volume is divided into three comprehensive, yet concise, parts. The first part (pp. 7–86) concentrates on theory and presents a variety of topics, ranging from gender performance to the liberation and autonomy of autistic transgender children. Although primarily concerned with theory, the final section of each chapter also includes relevant and useful implications for practice. The second part (pp. 87–138) focuses on implications and considerations for professionals working with autistic transgender and non-binary service users from a range of disciplines. The third and final part (pp. 139–185), and perhaps the most personal, centres on the lifelong experiences of living at the intersection of autism and gender and developing an overall identity that ultimately encompasses both. Additional useful information detailing the professional credentials and personal background of each contributor can be found towards the end of the book (pp. 187–193). The inclusion of this information arguably strengthens the credibility of each respective contributor, and thus the legitimacy of the text overall.
The writing style throughout this book is accessible to most professionals with an academic background, whilst also being detailed and comprehensive. Each chapter is set out concisely, with an introduction that includes key terminology or relevant background knowledge, clearly defined sub-sections, a closing section on advice and strategies, and a conclusion that summarises information in a reflective and/or quizzical manner.
The introductory chapter (pp. 9–23), written by the editor, helpfully outlines the key concepts that underpin the themes that run through the book. This includes an outline of the terminology that will be applied (as well as the rationale behind this); a clear distinction between sex and gender; a brief commentary on the link between autism and gender; and a useful overview of individual chapters within the book (which provides a concise and useful synopsis). These components aid the reader in developing a more comprehensive understanding of the authors’ positionality and perspectives.
A major strength of this book is that it does not assume that readers have significant prior knowledge about autism, gender, or the intersection between them. Indeed, from the very beginning, the introductory and initial chapters of this volume explicitly provide the reader with such pertinent information. For example, the second chapter, “Here Comes Trouble” by Milton (pp. 25–32), provides an in-depth explanation of the historical perspectives on autism and an exploration of the performance of gendered identities, with pertinent reference to influential theories proposed by Goffman (1959; 1963) and Butler (1990; 1993), as well as more contemporary theorists such as Yergeau (2018). Consequently, this makes the book accessible to professionals with little or no prior experience of working with autistic transgender and non-binary people.
Furthermore, the book is impressive for several reasons. Firstly, for presenting research, practice, and lived experience on the intersection of autism and transgenderism – an intersection that has been under-researched and is often inaccessible to those not working in academia. Certainly, research into autism and traditional gender differences (in line with the male/female binary) is something that has only relatively recently attracted attention. For Kourti et al. (2021) to be able to produce such a comprehensive text on the intersection between autism and transgender/non-binary is therefore commendable. Secondly, for the sheer breadth of topics covered, including gender performance, the intersection between autism, gender, and race, forming professional relationships with autistic transgender service users, and finally “doing” gender from childhood to older age. Thirdly, and perhaps most significantly, for the contributors’ unblinking inclusion of somewhat controversial and progressive topics around the intersection of autism and gender. This includes topics such as intersectional race theory, working with autistic people in gender identity clinics, and the decision to include, and particularly focus on, autistic children and young people in some chapters.
Whilst this book appears to be mainly aimed at professionals working with older adolescents or adults, the third chapter, “Beyond ‘For Your Own Good’” by Neumeier (pp. 33–48), advocates for liberation, justice, and autonomy for autistic transgender children. This chapter covers a multitude of discussion points, mostly centred around the author’s argument against “paternalism” in relation to autistic gender-variant children – “the belief that other people, namely neurotypical, cisgender adults, know which is best for them better than they do” (Neumeier, p. 34). The author’s arguments in favour of youth liberation and disability justice encourage the reader to consider the extent of autonomy and agency currently afforded to autistic transgender children.
Many academic texts over the decades have focused on the biological and binarised elements of sex. This book openly and consistently challenges these concepts by presenting gender as both distinct from biological sex, and as part of a spectrum (a brief overview of gender, sex, and gender variance is included in pp. 13–15). However, in doing so, this will invariably lead to some criticism that this book is overly biased. To overcome this, the editor could have included contributions from autistic individuals who have de-transitioned.
This timely book has been produced at what may be the epicentre of the so-called “gender wars” (Mackay, 2021): the polarising debate into the sex/gender distinction involving conflicting views on the legal and civil rights of individuals who do not necessarily align with the traditional views of gender presentation or roles. Kourti and the other contributing authors (2021) place their professional and real-life interactions with autistic transgender and non-binary people at the heart of this literature. Furthermore, the authority of many of the contributors on this topic is reinforced by the authors’ personal experiences of being autistic and/or identifying with a range of gender identities. Indeed, the volume combines the expertise of more established researchers in these areas, such as Damian E. M. Milton and Wenn Lawson, with valuable contributions from early-career and first-time authors.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to professionals working with autistic transgender and non-binary people. The authors clearly have a great deal of personal and professional experience, covering a wide breadth of topics in relation to gender and autism. Certainly, Kourti (2021) has produced a valuable contribution to the literature in the under-researched area of autism and gender diversity. However, perhaps the greatest strength of this volume is its timely relevance – in particular, its ability to advance understanding and professional practice during a period of uncertainty for gender diverse people. A future recommendation for these authors, or indeed others, would be to produce a similar-style book for parents or primary caregivers of autistic transgender and non-binary people, presented in accessible language.