Exercising reproductive rights ‘atypically’ and ‘independently.’ A critical interpretation of “American popular culture” in “As We See It.”

Abstract

The article investigates how the reproductive rights of women with autism are represented in the American TV series “As We See It,” situating the discussion within broader debates on U.S. disability law, normality, and reproductive justice. It adopts a critical theoretical framework that combines Michel Foucault’s reflections with contributions from disability activists, alongside insights from Disability, Feminist, and Autism Studies. The paper argues that the marginal representation of autistic women’s perspectives in “American popular culture,” exemplified by the series, reflects forms of reproductive discrimination also identified in legal and healthcare contexts. To address this point, it draws on Julia Kristeva’s notion of the “Semiotic,” framing autistic women’s testimonies as affirmative, “atypical” modes of communication that destabilize dominant “Symbolic” structures. It concludes that an emerging “autistic culture” can meaningfully enrich law and its critical, social, and cultural dimensions.