MASKING TRAITS AMONG AUTISTIC WOMEN
Disclaimer: We want to affirm our commitment to neurodiversity and inclusive language practices. We utilize identity-first language, acknowledging the preferences of the community we serve. Therefore, you may notice us referring to individuals as "autistic people" rather than "people with autism." This choice reflects our dedication to respecting the autonomy and identity of each individual. Studies have indicated that many within the autistic community prefer the term "autistic person," emphasizing the importance of recognizing and honoring diverse perspectives. Thank you for joining us on this journey of understanding and acceptance.
Hi all! Today we’re going to be talking about something we mentioned in our series on navigating autistic burnout… masking! Today, we will specifically be focusing on masking traits in young women, and how this could play into the gender differences associated with a diagnosis of Autism. Masking is common among autistic people, across all ages- though, today we will focus on the experience of autistic women in particular.
To this end, masking could play a role in the gender differences associated with a diagnosis of Autism, as women tend to be diagnosed later in life than males. It is important to understand what masking is and the common traits presented among autistic girls and women, to help the gender disparities in the diagnosis of Autism.
So, what exactly is masking?
Among autistic people, masking (also known as camouflaging) refers to the conscious or unconscious effort to suppress behaviors associated with being neurodivergent, to avoid stigma or harm as a result. Simply put, autistic people use social camouflaging to try to “blend in” among neurotypical peers. Current research suggests that autistic people tend to mask a lot, which can lead to long-term mental health problems. For example, autistic people might try to hide their stimming (a self-regulatory behavior also common in autism) in an effort to mask their traits in social settings. This could, however, become tiring for a neurodivergent person and might lead to unhappiness or feeling as though people don’t truly “know them.” Additionally, masking in women and girls leads them to internalize negative outcomes, such as depression or anxiety, and report less traits than boys or men. It is also important to understand gender differences in the diagnosis of autism, with masking possibly playing a role.
Common masking traits in young women
Rehearsing social situations
Hiding or minimizing their special interests
Forced eye contact
Having script answers to questions frequently asked by others
Trying to stop or hide their stimming
Mimicking others characteristics, such as how someone laughs or walks
Girls and women present different traits compared to boys and men when masking. In girls and women, these traits tend to go unnoticed or are misinterpreted by others. For example, a girl who is quiet and shy might be identified by her peers as simply being introverted. This explanation however can contribute to difficulties in noticing signs or traits of autism by a teacher or family member earlier (i.e. in childhood or young adulthood), as the behavior can be “written off” and missed as a potential trait. Being diagnosed as early as possible has been associated with better outcomes for autistic individuals, as it allows people the opportunity to receive access to care (such as support or accommodations). It is important to mention that everybody has their own unique, individualized personalities and experiences so it is not to say that the presence of one trait is reflective of a diagnosis, per say. Rather, it is helpful to understand masking traits shown in autism, in particular the differences in masking by girls and women, to help better identify experiences and overall understanding of autism.
Gender differences in the diagnosis of autism
In noting common masking traits among young women, it is important to explain the observed gender differences in the prevalence of an autism diagnosis in females.
Quick facts:
Autism is more commonly diagnosed in males than females, across all ages
Males are diagnosed three to four times more often than women
Reports of four males to every one female are diagnosed
Several factors have been found to be associated with such gender differences, for example females tend to be diagnosed with autism later in life than males (who are more typically diagnosed in childhood). Women also tend to have more co-occurring psychiatric conditions. Additional factors that might explain gender differences in Autism diagnosis could include disparities in cognitive development or variations in empathizing, with females being thought of as being more sympathetic due to their social compensating abilities, for example. To this end, women may be more likely to social camouflage or mask traits of autism in social contexts. In understanding gender differences in diagnosing autism (i.e. that women generally are diagnosed later in life), masking might be one factor that could play into the difficulty in diagnosis.
Overall Takeaways on Masking
To reiterate, masking is common among autistic people and refers to an effort to suppress certain behaviors, in an attempt to “fit in” to their social environment. Behaviors such as stimming, mimicking behaviors, or having intense interests (for example) are common among autistic people but may be viewed by others as out of the “norm.” As a result, masking is used as an internalized strategy to hide parts of oneself to appear “normal” in social contexts, meaning the person wants to avoid anything to provoke judgment or stigma.
Over time, masking can take a toll on the autistic person because they feel the need to hide themselves to fit in and to not appear different. Another aspect of masking that is important to understand are the gender differences in the traits exhibited as well as the potential impact masking can have on the Autism diagnosis. That is, the traits of masking in girls and women can go unnoticed, leading to a later in life diagnosis (than male counterparts).
If you think you are Autistic and are interested in adult autism testing, we would love to speak to you about our Autism Evaluations. Contact us today.
