The Library
An intersectional approach to Black parents’ experiences of autism in the UK
Tools
Gemegah, Eli (2022) An intersectional approach to Black parents’ experiences of autism in the UK. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
PDF
WRAP_Theses_Gemegah_2022.pdf - Submitted Version Embargoed item. Restricted access to Repository staff only until 20 May 2024. Contact author directly, specifying your specific needs. - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (4075Kb) |
Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b3851679
Abstract
This study investigates the lived experiences of Black parents caring for a child with autism. Their experiences were examined alongside familial, contextual and systemic contexts that intersect to influence parents’ psychological wellbeing. The study expanded upon Corbett and Perepa (2007) who investigated cultural influences in autism and Heer, Rose and Larkin’s study (2012) on contextual factors that influence Black and minority ethnic parents of children with learning disability. Since then, there has been minimal research on the role of culture on Black parents’ experiences of autism, so this study aimed to begin to address this gap in research.
A qualitative approach was adopted using in-depth interviews with participants across England and a hermeneutic phenomenological method provided breadth and depth of findings on experiences from an often-marginalised group of people at the intersection of race, gender and disability. Following an ecological framework, the research findings identified factors at individual (i.e., mothers as primary caregivers, isolation), community (cultural beliefs and cognitive dissonance, lack of autism knowledge, stigma) and structural levels (institutional racism in education, housing; lack of cultural sensitivity during and after diagnosis) that negatively influenced parents’ experiences of autism and their wellbeing.
An intersectional lens provided insight of how multiple identities converge in various contexts. The findings revealed that in addition to challenges associated with autism, Black parents experienced distinct and nuanced difficulties associated with race, culture, gender and socio-economic status. Parents’ multiple and intersecting identities shaped their experiences of autism and their psychological wellbeing in the face of racism, unequal division of labour and oppressions from structural barriers in the home, community and organisations in wider society.
The findings of the study showed that mothers’ primary caregiving role negatively affect their quality of life (isolation, financial hardship) and psychological wellbeing. Culture influenced gender roles and perception of autism, which impacted the family structure and subsystems. However, mothers recounted the valuable nature of their coping strategies including spiritual beliefs, cognitive appraisal and resilience. This study revealed the multi-level intersection of race, culture, gender and disability and provides relevant information for mental health and social practice, policy, and research.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman L Education > LC Special aspects of education R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services |
||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Parents of autistic children, Families, Black -- Great Britain, Autistic children -- Family relationships, Children with autism spectrum disorders | ||||
Official Date: | May 2022 | ||||
Dates: |
|
||||
Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | Centre for Education Studies | ||||
Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Hartas, Dimitra, 1966- | ||||
Sponsors: | Economic and Social Research Council (Great Britain) | ||||
Format of File: | |||||
Extent: | vi, 281 leaves : illustrations | ||||
Language: | eng |
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
View Item |