Schroten, Vera (2026) Stigmatisation in Dutch Language Use: Person- First vs Identity-First Language in the Autism Community in the Netherlands. Bachelor thesis, Global Responsibility & Leadership (GRL).
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Abstract
This study examines the role of stigmatisation in shaping language preferences among autistic adults in the Netherlands, with a specific focus on the debate between person-first language (PFL) and identity-first language (IFL). Previous research in English-speaking contexts has generally shown a preference for IFL, whereas recent Dutch studies have reported a contrasting preference for PFL. To better understand this contrast, the present study investigated whether stigma attached to autism-related terms in Dutch helps explain the difference in preference. A mixed-methods questionnaire was distributed through the organisation Jados to autistic adults in the Netherlands. The survey collected demographic information, asked participants to indicate which autism-related terms they were willing to use and which they preferred most, and invited them to rate the perceived stigma of different terms. Open-ended questions were also included to explore participants’ reasoning in more depth. The results showed a small overall preference for PFL, although term preferences were fairly evenly distributed across PFL and IFL. Participants rated the term ‘autist’ as the most stigmatising, followed by ‘autistic person’, while ‘someone with Asperger’s/PDD-NOS’ and ‘person with autism’ received lower stigma ratings. The quantitative analysis found that term type and term-type preference affected stigma ratings, but stigma did not fully account for participants’ preferred term choices. The qualitative analysis identified several themes, including autism as a core part of identity, autism as only one part of identity, rejection of medicalised language, negative past experiences with certain terms, and the importance of context. Overall, the findings suggest that stigmatisation plays a role in Dutch autism-related language use, but it is not the only factor influencing preference. Identity and context also shape how autistic adults experience language. This study therefore contributes to a more nuanced understanding of autism terminology in the Dutch context and highlights the need for respectful, individualised language choices.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
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| Name supervisor: | Verkhodanova, V. |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Jun 2026 11:38 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Jun 2026 11:38 |
| URI: | https://campus-fryslan.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/806 |
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