Mulheres autistas no Instagram

Abstract

Currently, we know that social media aren’t passive products on the internet. Networks like Instagram have an active role in the diagnostic process of mental disorders, as well as in the way these conditions are socially experienced and understood. Instagram is now considered a platform of great relevance in the search and sharing of health-related content, because of its interactive nature, speed and ease of access, in addition to its diversity. Considering this, the present work brings a brief survey of profiles on Instagram that are managed by women with ASD, with the purpose of exploring the content shared in these profiles and contributing to the formulation of new ideas and hypotheses in future research in the area. The representation of adult and autistic women, in general, in the profiles is based on daily life, allowing followers to get closer to their reality. In addition to disseminating information, they also bring content with motivational and overcoming phrases, taking autism with lightness, humor and simplicity. It is evident that the shared content helps not only other people with autism in the process of self-acceptance, diagnosis acceptance and self-knowledge, but also fathers, mothers and neurotypical people interested in better understanding the disorder.