"Get Your Child in Order:" Illustrations of Courtesy Stigma from Fathers Raising Both Autistic and Non-autistic Children

Abstract

Parents of autistic children report relatively high levels of parenting stress that includes experiencing stigma. Yet, research about stigma experienced by parents of autistic children is limited, and in particular, fathers' experiences are rarely documented. The purpose of this study is to illuminate courtesy stigma experiences of fathers of autistic children. We conducted a secondary analysis of narrative data from a subset of 16 fathers raising both autistic and non-autistic children. Fathers participated in in-depth interviews about successes and struggles in raising autistic children. Fathers experienced "felt stigma" in forms of censorship, isolation, guilt and defying stigma. Fathers navigate ableist stereotypes, which are interwoven with stereotypes of traditional masculinity. Fathers defy stigma but are also part of processes that perpetuate stigma. Further, understandings of the complexities of courtesy stigma are needed, particularly through studies that target fathers from diverse cultural, racial, family structural and socio-economic backgrounds.