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at “masking” or camouflaging their autistic traits by mimicking social behaviors have led to girls and women being overlooked for decades. In 2023 UCLA reported that nearly 80% of autistic women are undiagnosed by the age of 18 with boys being 4 times more likely to receive a diagnosis than girls, and Durham University reported that nearly 80% of autistic women were initially misdiagnosed, often with very serious mental health conditions such as Borderline Personality Disorder or Bipolar Disorder. High-achieving women with autism often mask their condition through the demands and structure of their successful careers. Their intelligence, determination, and ability to learn social cues help them navigate professional environments, often allowing them to blend in seamlessly. These women may develop sophisticated coping strategies, such as mimicking social behaviors or meticulously preparing for social interactions, which can obscure the signs of autism. However, this constant effort to mask their differences can be exhausting and lead to challenges in personal life, mental health, and
time but payroll and ne for me, a safe space helm of life.”
overlooked or misunderstood, the neurodiversity movement offers both hope and validation. It recognises that autism signs in women are often subtler or concealed by learned social behaviors, leading to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis well into adulthood. Since the birth of the concept of autism in the 1940s diagnostic research was centered on men and boys, leading to a gender-biased diagnosis criteria based on how the condition presents in males. These gender-biased criteria are very much still in place today and partnered with historic gender stereotypes, a lack of knowledge of autism in women overall and the fact women are typically much better
relationships, as the underlying struggles remain unrecognised.
Spreading the Word There is a grieving process after such a diagnosis, for the person you thought you were and for the person you could have been if you’d been diagnosed earlier. There are a million “what ifs” that go through your mind, as well as
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