What do you think of being associated with models in bikinis

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I am just wondering what other female aspies think about this topic...

What do you think about a campaign who is trying, with all good intentions, to gain awareness for autism by associating pictures of gorgeous women in bikinis with the word autism? It is more coming from the angle of being a parent of a child with autism. It is mainly based around putting the word "autism" out there, with very little emphasis on educating people on what it is, though there is still some here and there.

I have my thoughts on it, but wanted to hear everyone else's too, because I am only one female with AS with one opinion. I guess my biggest concern is that females with AS are very opposite (generally) to the image portrayed (looks-conscious) since we tend to be more practical, and care little about our hair and makeup, etc, and that perhaps this image may make us look worse in that regard, if we don't live up to this perfect "image" of the word autism and women, together... I also wonder if it widens the gap between AS and NTs even further in that it is very in your face that we are not as perfect with our presentation to the World as people think we should be... (not that we can't be, of course). Also, that kind of image tends to go hand in hand with perfectly social NTs.

I would rather just be understood and accepted for who I am.

Could you post a link to an image from this campaign? I don't think I can form an opinion without seeing exactly how they have executed this.

Sure. I guess I was hesitant because I don't want to associate any bad press for her, as I know she has her heart in the right place. I am just concerned about future consequences is all and was wondering if others felt this way, or if they in fact like her idea.

It is a facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/armyofautismawarenessangels

I'm a bit mixed on that one. I'm sure that their campaign is meant to be lighthearted, and I'm sure it does raise a lot of money . On the other hand, I keep looking for ads for cheap beer or Axe body spray. I wouldn't think their approach would target quite the demographic they need.
It doesn't seem to represent women with AS, so I'm not offended by it at all.

They have to be kidding. Is this for real?

The information they provide isn't even that helpful.

Hello? It's like a bimbo/airhead autism awareness campaign. I also resent people thinking of cute girls in bikinis when they think of autism. Yeah, there are probably some gals with autism who look great in bikinis, but what pray tell does that have to do with autism? It's totally misleading. I guess it will get some NT men to look, but I doubt they'll be reading the lame, inadequate information, or thinking much about autism for that matter.

Sad, really sad.

Ehhh it seems that they are trying to promote themselves more than their cause

They "Flashed for autism"? How is this campaign supposed to work again?

Edit: Nevermind

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRD14-eY8T0[/youtube]

Complete with a hip hop song.

I can see the message of autism awareness in this interpretive dance. And the irony that probably no person with autism would want to be there in the mall at the time.

Wow...pretty sure I'd be having a panic attack if I were caught in the middle of that mall performance.

I didn't get the impression that the folks in bikinis were trying to advertise themselves as being representative of autism. I guess they just dress that way to get attention. I would think they could have come up with a more interesting costume than red bikinis and angel wings but that's just my preference.

lol... Well, it's definitely attention-grabbing. The flash mob, I mean. It does seem like a counter-intuitive way to spread autism awareness though. I guess I don't care as long as they're being genuine.

I got the idea that they were trying to show people that autistics look like everybody else. You can't always tell by looks. We could be the hot girl in the bikini or the grandfather doing yardwork or the single guy running errands. I didn't read the whole thing though, so I don't know if thats what they were doing.

I think that when people hear "autism" they think of either a 12 year old boy with a buzz cut who has behavior problems, or they think of Rain Man, who had some pretty heavy social skills problems but had that one savant talent. Maybe it will make them see that because it's a spectrum disorder, there are lots of different levels of being effected and of functioning.

I'm not wanting to see people like the examples I gave excluded, I'd just like to see autism's image expanded.

i find the campaign abhorrent. so now i can't just be an average person and autistic, but i need to aspire to be a blonde bikini model? we're just *people* after all.

think the campaign is a stupid idea. why do they have to objectify themselves to raise awareness again? what have models in bikinis got to do with autism? what have models got to do with anything in general? do women have to be models to get a social message across? i dont get what flashing has to do with autism or how it will enlighten people. terrible idea.

*Epic double facepalm*

Seriously? Could they have come up with anything that is less representitive of Autism?

If they wanted to pursue the "we can look like anyone" line then they should have done just that, included everyone - not just the less than 1% of who happen to fit the cultural ideal of beauty.

All this is, is material designed to gain public attention in completely the wrong way.

I think it's dumb. It reminds me of pep assemblies in high school, which I always hated. What does this have to do with autism? Then again, maybe NT's respond better to this kind of thing than we do.

I still do not understand how telling people to educate themselves helps people to actually understand what autism is.

I like seeing hot girls in bikinis. Though I'm pretty sure I would have missed whatever they're promoting. Even if I've got the condition. I always thought they just want to show off their bodies, socialize with other chicks and feel good about themselves. Things most autistic people probably not want.

I mean think about all those fund raising, awareness or charity events, it's mostly for people to spend lots of money to make themselves look good, socialize with important (or aspiring to be important) people, plus feel good about themselves, right? I myself might not like it but if it works and gets money for charity, then I guess it's OK.