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Autism Vox

Out of the icebox

by Kristina Chew, PhD on April 6th, 2006

My description for Autism Vox is, it’s a blog in which an “autism mother gets on her soapbox” (soapvox?).

Also on my mind in choosing to say I’m “getting on my soapbox” is the refrigerator mother theory of autism, popularized by Bruno Bettelheim, the child pscyhologist (whose academic background was in art history) who was the authority on autism in the 1960s and the director of the Orthogenic School in Chicago. According to the refrigerator mother theory, autism was caused by emotionally cold and distant parents (mothers especially) who never “attached” to their child. The child then “withdrew” into his or her “own world.”
The Creation of Doctor B : A Biography of Bruno Bettelheim
The damage done to countless families, women, and especially autistic persons as a result of Bettelheim’s work is documented in the film Refrigerator Mothers.

So Autism Vox is my soapbox because Bettelheim and his legacy have left a pretty fine mess that needs cleaning up, with lots of hot water.

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POSTED IN: History, Stereotypes

3 opinions for Out of the icebox

  • Autism Vox » Genetics, Excuses, and Myths
    Apr 28, 2006 at 12:54 pm

    […] While we do not know exactly what causes autism, there are many theories, from mercury in vaccines to environmental toxins to the discounted “refrigerator mother” theory to genetics. A recent post by Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei at Genetics and Health on Using Genes as an Excuse prompted me to think about why, in my circle, people have tended to be unwilling to simply say that “autism is genetic.” […]

  • Autism Vox » Remembering “Refrigerator Mothers” on Mother’s Day
    May 14, 2006 at 9:26 am

    […] As an autism mother today in 2006, I have to wonder how autism mothers in the 1950’s and 1960’s felt on Mother’s Days past. These mothers–due to the now totally discredited refrigerator mother theory of autism promulgated by Bruno Bettelheim–were made to believe they had made their children autistic. […]

  • Autism Vox » Teaching Strategy #6: 1st Cooking Lesson
    Apr 2, 2007 at 11:27 pm

    […] a “neurodiversity site”; it’s me, autism mother, on my soapbox and, if you will, out of the icebox). Whatever you call either, I did feel my heart warmed to see Charlie working the microwave […]

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