West campus news Releases Archive

ASU's Majia Holmer Nadesan authors groundbreaking genealogy of autism

Sep. 23, 2005

'Constructing Autism' book to debut in the United States this fall

Autism is now considered to be one of the most common developmental disorders. Yet, 100 years ago autism did not officially exist. Majia Holmer Nadesan, an associate professor of communication studies in the College of Human Services at Arizona State University’s West campus, has produced a comprehensive study of the historical and social events that led to autism being identified as a distinct disorder in the early 20^th century. Her book, “Constructing Autism: Unravelling the ‘truth’ and understanding the social,” has been published by Routledge in the United Kingdom where it currently is being sold. The book will be available for sale in the United States later this fall.

“This text addresses the historical conditions, theoretical frameworks and ethics related to the study of autism, as it has evolved over time,” said Nadesan. “Conceptually, this is a genealogy of autism. But the same theories addressed here can be applied to the changing paradigms that have shaped expert knowledge on a wide range of diseases and disabilities.”

This is Nadesan’s first book. Her research focuses on the intersections that exist among everyday life, cultural studies and political economy. Her interest in the subject of autism stems from her son, who is diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, which falls under the autism spectrum of disorders.

According to Nadesan, her book breaks new ground because it demonstrates that autism has been socially constructed by psychoanalysis, cognitive psychology and genetic medicine. She believes her book addresses a lack in the autism literature by identifying and contextualizing the changing opinions of this disorder.

“As a disorder, autism’s meanings and origins have been hotly contested throughout the 20^th century,” she said. “From an ego shipwrecked on the shores of object relations to defective gene alleles, expert understandings of autism reflect changing paradigms of understanding.”

Nadesan’s work acknowledges and studies a growing debate in this country regarding what has been termed the “autism epidemic” and the reasons behind it, as well as conventional and controversial therapies and interventions. Her research also looks at the line between normalcy and pathology and the cultural aspects of each.

Said Nadesan, “I’m hoping to get us thinking about the way we’re thinking. This book, I think, will provide advocacy for those who are labeled as ‘different’ or ‘abnormal.’”

###

Back >>