Abstract
Autistic girls and women—defined broadly in the current chapter as autistic individuals assigned female at birth and/or currently identifying as female—experience disproportionate negative health outcomes, relative to non-autistic and autistic male populations. As researchers, practitioners, and individuals with lived experiences, the authors of the current chapter seek to inform efforts to address these significant barriers and, in turn, promote the health and well-being of autistic women across the life course.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC): Forms of communication aside from speech which can be used in addition to or in lieu of one’s speech.
Neuro-Affirming Interventions: Interventions that are inclusive, lifespan-oriented, and focus on outcomes that matter to autistic individuals.
Self-Stigma: Internalized prejudice, shame, and fear, as well as concern about experiencing enacted stigma (I.e., overt discrimination). Self-stigma is particularly prevalent in autistic women.
Neurodiversity: A perspective that reframes autism as a valuable aspect of identity, in light of the (often negative) societal standards and expectations for autistic women.
Minority Stress: Experiencing excess social stress and stigmatized social status because of one’s identity as a minority. Minority stressors such as discrimination, internalized stigma, and camouflaging are associated with significantly worse mental health, beyond what would be attributable to general stress exposure.
Intersectionality: A theoretical framework by Crenshaw (2013) AU56: The in-text citation "Crenshaw (2013)" is not in the reference list. Please correct the citation, add the reference to the list, or delete the citation. , emphasizes the interconnected nature of social categories such as gender, race, class, and disability, recognizing that individuals can experience multiple layers of disadvantage or privilege. By taking an intersectional perspective, we aim to better understand the complex interplay of various social factors that shape the lives of autistic girls and women, promoting a more nuanced and inclusive approach to research and intervention strategies.
Camouflaging: Masking autistic traits to appear more aligned with social norms. Camouflaging is more prevalent in autistic females relative to males as they age.
Diagnostic Overshadowing: Occurs when challenges due to one diagnosis are misattributed to other diagnoses. As an example, repetitive behaviors in eating disorders may be perceived as strategies to “burn calories” rather than self-soothing or self-regulation strategies.
Autistic Girls and Women: Autistic individuals assigned female at birth and/or currently identifying as female.