Neurodivergence and Masculinity through Social Media during an Era of Global Far-Right Extremism

This project examines social media posts about neurodiversity and masculinity on Instagram during a period where global far-right narratives are reshaping the world. The online neurodivergent community has a reputation for group support and for facilitating positive attitudes and awareness about neurodiversity. The far-right is concerned with rewinding social progress and denying support to EDI groups. This may affect how neurodivergent-led social media chooses to position itself. The next years will likely hold great political and social changes for the global community, and neurodivergent online groups may find unique ways to continue to support each other. The findings from this project will contribute to disseminating the positive advocacy for neurodivergent-led support online. This project relates to the disability visibility mantra of “nothing about us, without us.”

Alexa MacDermot is an Autistic PhD student in the School of Social Policy, Social Work, and Social Justice, University College Dublin. Her research is about Autistic and/or ADHD women in Ireland in midlife: Identity, Social Relations, and Employment. Alexa is a Board Member for AHEAD Ireland which supports disabled students in third-level education and into employment. She runs the UCD Neurodiversity Collective, a student-led community group, and has created The Neurogender Podcast to disseminate academic neurodivergence literature to the public.