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.
Published in Chapter:
Understanding and Improving the Experiences of Autistic Girls and Women in Healthcare
Emily Hotez (David Geffen School of Medicine. University of California, Los Angeles, USA),
Kashia A. Rosenau (David Geffen School of Medicine. University of California, Los Angeles, USA),
Lauren Chiang (David Geffen School of Medicine. University of California, Los Angeles, USA),
Kristina M. Brown (David Geffen School of Medicine. University of California, Los Angeles, USA),
Julian M. Lejbman (David Geffen School of Medicine. University of California, Los Angeles, USA),
Wilson D. Ricketts (David Geffen School of Medicine. University of California, Los Angeles, USA), and
Nathan VanderVeen (David Geffen School of Medicine. University of California, Los Angeles, USA)
Copyright: © 2024
|Pages: 26
DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3693-1285-8.ch009
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.