WOMEN’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR CARE WITH THE AUTISTIC SON: HISTORICAL AND DISCURSIVE FACTORS

Abstract

The inclusion of autistic people in regular schools, made possible by Law No. 12,764, of December 27, 2012, has provoked a series of new reflections by education professionals. An issue that draws our attention is the maternal role in care for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), observed by the massive presence of mothers in the various spaces occupied by this group, including the school. This observation is reinforced by its occurrence in research in the most diverse areas, such as languages, education and health, as well as by its dissemination in media pieces. In this text, we aim to delve into the historical roots of this process of making women responsible for caring for autistic people, whether in the family or professional context. Theoretically, this movement will be carried out through Foucauldian Discursive Studies. Within this aspect, using archaeogenealogical methodology, we problematize the conception, still accepted by many people, that women have a “natural talent” for caring for others and their consequent responsibility for caring for their autistic children. To this end, we focus on two Enunciative Series (ESs) of the documentary “Autismo vida real”, regularities and dispersions that point to the subjectification of women. In the interweaving of the different social roles played by women, throughout history, in different conditions of possibility, we identified, as a result of our analysis, powers that want to be exercised over women and the family structure. We conclude, based on these results, that there is a social framework, historically constructed, to make women responsible for care, including for people with autism, who require special attention.