As a youth who realized I’m mostly so based (and scarcely compared to her) because this area is my autistic special interest, I’m afraid we’re in a similar boat as non-representatives. Still, I remain hopeful and we are slowly radicalizing as conditions worsen.
I have noticed that many people who are disabled (such as myself who is AuDHD) or GSM/trans are usually the first to be radicalized as MLs (or at least anarchists).
Just as proletarians are more likely to support leftist ideas, so too are other oppressed groups of people. It's a matter of survival, the system is actively hostile towards people who aren't cishet male
It's also why intersectional theory is so important.
Maybe it’s just my manner of talking but I have radicalized in part a decent amount of people - all ADHD and/or autistic. I have also met other leftists that are almost all neurodivergent. I feel like the strong interests, neuroatypical empathy, and feelings of justice play a role beyond the explanation of oppression/disability.
I definitely believe the deep empathy that neurodivergents are usually better at plays a key role, along with the obsessive interests and experience of oppression/discrimination. Most autistic people struggle with keeping a job for two years, so the financial and time management struggle I believe pushes us to the left quickly.
In addition to hyper empathy, the tendency to not be too attached and defensive of an in group (NT empathy) and instead extend rational concern broadly.
I get told I have a strong "sense of right and wrong" due to my ADHD and I don't really feel like that's related. I feel like I might just notice things more because I diverge in some ways, so I notice wrongs. Having wrong done upon oneself then makes one more empathetic to fighting wrongs in general. Also depressed. But ey, whatyagonnado eh
I'm the same age as Greta, and she was a massive inspiration to me when she started. I was a communist first but she has done massive amounts of good, getting young people invested in climate change action, and also seeing how useless liberal protest is
She had the same effect that Bernie did for a lot of people, but she turned out a million times cooler than him. I would love to meet her some day and just tell her how much I respect her