5 reasons autism is so frequently missed in girls and women

5 reasons autism is so frequently missed in women and girls

1. Social skills: Many autistic girls learn from a young age, usually after being bullied and harassed for their differences, that they need to mask to fit in. So they learn to mirror and mimic others as a coping strategy.

2. Sensory sensitivities: Autistic girls and women often learn to "suffer in silence" and be in extreme, sometimes excruciating, discomfort without saying a word about it because they've been told countless times that they're "overreacting."

3. Stims (self-stimulatory behavior): Autistic girls and women often develop stims that most people wouldn't notice so they don't stand out. Things like skin picking, chewing nails, lips and cheeks, twirling hair...

4. Special interests: Autistic girls and women are often drawn to interests that are considered mainstream. So even though their special interests are highly intense, even "obsessive, " they don't stand out as unusual.

5. Rule following: Autistic girls and women tend to be extremely good at following rules (they understand) even when they're struggling. So they're often seen as "well behaved" and their struggles go unnoticed.

I do want to note that these are NOT exclusive to women and girls. But they are very common experiences that girls and women have. 

So common that the DSM acknowledges it in multiple ways.

I'll also add that these are also reflective of the high masking version of autism... which tends to be a presentation of level 1 (lower support needs) autism.