Paper
Intersecting Marginalisations: The Challenges of Neuroqueer Individuals in Indian Mental Health Care
presenters
Swakshadip Sarkar
Nationality: India
Residence: New Zealand
Victoria University of Wellington
Presence:Online
Keywords:
neuroqueer; mental health; India; challenges
Abstract:
Gender and sexual diversity, once considered mental illnesses requiring conversion therapy, persist as perceived ailments in Indian society. Similarly, neurodivergence, encompassing conditions such as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Dyslexia, has been stigmatised as "mental retardedness," rooted in colonial-era eugenics ideologies. Both neurodiverse and gender/sexually diverse individuals encounter structural violence, shaping post-colonial India. Studies by researchers such as Patra (2016); Chatterjee and Mukherjee (2021); and Mhatre et al. (2023) underscore the persistence of conversion therapy for gender and sexually diverse individuals. Diwakar (2017) notes the negative view of neurodiversity influenced by colonial eugenics, leading to marginalisation. Structural violence against both groups perpetuates marginalisation, as documented by Joseph (2023) and Kottai (2022). This presentation examines the compounded marginalisation experienced by individuals in India who are both gender/sexually diverse and neurodivergent, termed "neuroqueer" (Kleekamp, 2021). Theoretical frameworks, notably intersectionality by Crenshaw (1989) and Egner's (2018) concept of neuroqueer disidentification guide the exploration of these intersections of marginalisation.
The methodology employs podcast ethnography (Lundström and Lundström, 2021), analysing episodes of 'Atypical Dikkatein,' hosted by neuroqueer individual Soumya Mishra. The podcast ethnography reveals the profound marginalisation faced by queer neurodivergent individuals in accessing mental health institutions. Diagnosis by mental health professionals is vital for neurodivergent individuals, offering them a framework to understand their experiences. However, the medical model often treats neurodivergence as a disease, causing distress. Diagnostic criteria are biased, typically designed for young cisgender males, neglecting the diverse experiences of neurodivergent people, especially women and those with multiple conditions. Accessibility challenges, geographic disparities, and high costs further complicate accurate diagnoses. Misdiagnoses and prolonged distress are common, particularly for marginalised and intersectional identities. The compounded marginalisation of neuroqueer individuals in India underscores the urgent need for more inclusive and intersectional approaches within mental health care.