Abstract

ORRU, Sílvia Ester. "The all is nothing and nothing is everything" Autism and subjectivity in the life and work of Donna Williams. Prax. Saber [online]. 2025, vol.16, n.45, 4.  Epub Jan 15, 2026. ISSN 2216-0159.  https://doi.org/10.19053/uptc.22160159.v16.n45.2025.18216.

The purpose of this article is to highlight the complex contemporary subjectivity of autism present in our society and that needs to be understood and welcomed by both the Sciences and the most diverse and distinct social spaces, especially with regard to the school, university and work context. The main objective is to present the work of Donna Williams, a woman diagnosed with autism, whose hyperfocus is on art and literature. Its methodological path is the analysis and discussion of the theme from the perspective of Feminist Critical Theory supported by the intersectionality paradigm. To this end, poems published in the book "My Mysterious World" were selected that materialize the author's unique ways of expressing her feelings, emotions and perceptions about herself, other people, life and the universe as a woman with autism, which is characterized by a double intersectional condition. The conclusions reveal that her autobiography is a treasure trove of knowledge about being a woman crossed by autism, while at the same time it is a poetic power charged with intensities ingrained in her mind, soul, body and spirit.

Keywords : women with Autism; Autism; gender; intersectionality; patriarchy; sexism in science.

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