Bosco, M. C. L. (2023). ‘Bodies that never grow’: How psychiatric understanding of autism spectrum disorders affects autistic people's bodily experience of gender, ageing, and sexual desire. Journal of Aging Studies, 64, 101101.
Stevenson, J. L., Harp, B., & Gernsbacher, M. A. (2011). Infantilizing Autism. Disability studies quarterly: DSQ, 31(3). 

Infantilization refers to the treatment of an adult or an adolescent as if they were a small child or infant. While anyone can experience infantilization, individuals on the autism spectrum are often more prone to being treated in this manner.

Infantilization in Autism Spectrum Disorder

ASD & Infantilization Reference List

Being infantilized could potentially result in:
- Decreased self-esteem
- Increased dependency on others
- Lack of basic life skills (cooking, laundry, etc).
- Feelings of inadequacy

Negative Effects of Infantilization on those with ASD

Potential reasons behind infantilization include:
* Portrayals of autism in media
* Lack of understanding of ASD
* To convey a feeling of superiority
* The person or people engaging in infantilization do not realize they are doing so

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