Unsettling the Norm: A Posthumanist Reading of Sameness and Differences in Kathryn Erskine's Mockingbird

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2025

Abstract

Drawing on a posthumanist theory, this paper tackles the voices of children with intellectual disability in Erskine's Mockingbird (2010). Posthumanism conflicts with the principles of humanism that ground discrimination against the disabled in the first place. So, it sheds light on the participation and inclusion of the disabled in society. Hence, posthumanism aims to focus on self and others, raising awareness among children with and without disabilities about sameness and differences. Finding sameness helps the non-disabled understand the experience of others and creates a sense of shared humanity whereas revealing differences allows them to question social constructions related to disability. The paper explores how Erskine echoes the voices of the autistic, displaying the social, attitudinal, and environmental barriers that hinder the participation of the autistic in society and the educational system on an equal footing with non-disabled children, challenging the misconceptions and stereotypes relating to the autistic.

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