Beyond Labels: An Authentic Look at Diversity

Severe Autism in Contemporary Literature: The Case of I am BIG

In contemporary literature, works such as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time have brought us closer to the autism spectrum from a particular perspective, but they often focus on Asperger's Syndrome. I am BIG, on the other hand, invites us to step into the world of Andrea, a teenager with severe autism, overweight, and an unusual height, whose vision of the world is as pure as it is unconventional.

Have We Changed Our Mindset or Just Our Words?

For centuries, society has been responsible for burying these people alive, denying them their own personal growth. The barriers are not just architectural; they don't lie solely in the diagnosis or the terminology. Although we have evolved from derogatory terms (such as "handicapped") to more inclusive ones (such as "people with functional diversity"), out on the street, in day-to-day life, the same restrictive and isolating gaze still exists toward those who are perceived as different.

On this journey, the support and presence of their loved ones become the necessary shield to survive and find their place in a world that is not always prepared to understand them.

Love Without Filters: Breaking the Taboo of Intimacy

The novel also explores the protagonist's relationship with her boyfriend, Óscar, a young man with Down Syndrome who works in a carpentry workshop and is a successful painter. Within these pages, their relationship is narrated with naturalness and respect. We even witness their first intimate encounter—a taboo subject in both reality and fiction.

A Grain of Sand Against Social Invisibility

No matter how hard we try to make them believe they are less important than the rest, one thing must be clear: greatness does not understand chromosomes. Or, as Andrea's mother says, "What makes you great is not your height, it's what you endure."

Let us all help to give visibility to those whom society tries to hide under layers of media superficiality. I am BIG is my grain of sand.

And what about you? Have you ever been affected by this social silencing? Do you think we are truly moving forward in the fight against invisibility? Let me know in the comments.