Starting in adolescence, they have high rates of depression and anxiety - 34 and 36 percent, respectively. Women with Asperger profiles can experience co-occurring mood disorders and often internalize feelings of frustration and failure. No matter how subtle or overt, exclusion and bullying can be profoundly traumatizing and affect the self-confidence and sense of security of the target individuals.
However, how bullying manifests can tend to take on different characteristics based on gender. Females may also have more difficulty in forming friendships because female relationships are frequently based on nuanced emotional and social exchanges, whereas male friendships have historically been more activity-based.2 Like males, females on the Asperger/autism spectrum are likely to have experienced a history of bullying. The gap between societal expectations and personal interests can be greater in females with Asperger profiles than in males with Asperger profiles because societal expectations for a strong social identity traditionally can be higher for females. One study by Simon Baron-Cohen and Sally Wheelwright found that “women are more likely to enjoy close, empathetic supportive friendships, to like and be interested in people to enjoy interaction with others for its own sake and to consider friendships important”1. Consequently, Asperger females may feel stigmatized in ways that are different than males. In many places, women are still often expected to place more value on relationships than on hard-skills. While many people have fought long and hard to ensure universally accepted gender equality, boys and girls are still often socialized differently in our modern culture. As always, these interests are ever-evolving with the times. There are no limits to the variety and depth of interests or expertise for both females and males with Asperger profiles. That said, when it comes to special interests, anything goes for both genders. Historically, women have been less likely than men to be interested in transportation, computers, or astronomy, and more likely to be passionate about literature, the arts, animals, environmental activism, and other topics with relational themes. This could lead to mutism, escapism, or a focus on routines and rituals.įrequently, women with Asperger profiles, like neurodiverse men, have intense special interests however, these special interests can follow different sets of themes. She might be anxious in settings where she is asked to perform in social situations.She might be exhausted from the work of deciphering social rules or of imitating those around her to hide her differences.At home, she might be more prone to releasing her bottled up emotions through meltdowns. “A girl with Asperger’s syndrome may suffer social confusion in silence and isolation in the classroom or playground but she may be a different character at home, the ‘mask’ is removed.” (Tony Attwood). She might show different sides of her personality in different settings.She might work very hard to “camouflage” her social confusion and/or anxiety through strategic imitation, by escaping into nature or fantasy, or by staying on the periphery of social activity.She might appear naive or immature, as she is out of sync with the trends or the social norms. Sensitive to textures, she might prefer to wear comfortable, practical clothing. She might demonstrate an aversion to what is popular, what is feminine, or what is fashionable.She may prefer having only one or two friends, or to play in solitude, having an appreciation of and focus on specific interests. As a young girl, she may know that she is different, noticing that her interests veer away from those of her peers.While every girl and women with an Asperger profile is unique, many share certain experiences. While the core characteristics of an Asperger profile does not differ between genders, girls and women might demonstrate different outward reactions to the profile. While many professionals and advocates are working hard to change this reality, there is still a long way to go in terms of universal understanding and recognition of the unique gifts and challenges of Asperger women. Additionally, many professionals have been trained to recognize typical Asperger/autism spectrum expression more easily in males than in females. Women with Asperger profiles are less likely to be diagnosed and more likely to be misdiagnosed for a number of reasons. Additional Resources for Women Common Experiences
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