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Autism and gender identity

violetdr3amer

I just came across this article and it got me thinking...

https://www.aane.org/gendervague-intersection-autistic-trans-experiences/

I saw some stats somewhere a while ago, which show that quite a lot of people on the spectrum are trans or identify as non-binary/gender-fluid. Quite a lot of us are gender non-conforming, or we don't identify to our assigned gender role.

I'm a woman but I've been told many times that I "act like a bloke", and from my observations/in my opinion, NTs are much more gender-stereotyped and conform more to societal gender roles.

Thoughts?

Parents

  • There's a company 'Spectrum Outfitters' who make binders. They have an article on their website highlighting a higher rate of gender-dysphoria in people on the autism spectrum and I believe there's a connection with their name. https://spectrumoutfitters.co.uk/pages/autism-and-the-lgbtqia - might be of interest.

    There are many possible reasons for linking neurodivergence with identity, including gender identity. 

    Gender is a construct and, as such, is subjective and contextual. Ideas of gender roles are even more subjective. In my experience, autistic minds find contextual fields less agreeable and sometimes challenging. So it's quite natural for us to challenge those concepts.

    With gender dysphoria, I think it might be that many neurodivergent minds have a harder time compartmentalising or dealing with internal conflict. If something doesn't feel right, it might be harder for us to accept it or distract ourselves away from it because we feel it too greatly. 

Reply

  • There's a company 'Spectrum Outfitters' who make binders. They have an article on their website highlighting a higher rate of gender-dysphoria in people on the autism spectrum and I believe there's a connection with their name. https://spectrumoutfitters.co.uk/pages/autism-and-the-lgbtqia - might be of interest.

    There are many possible reasons for linking neurodivergence with identity, including gender identity. 

    Gender is a construct and, as such, is subjective and contextual. Ideas of gender roles are even more subjective. In my experience, autistic minds find contextual fields less agreeable and sometimes challenging. So it's quite natural for us to challenge those concepts.

    With gender dysphoria, I think it might be that many neurodivergent minds have a harder time compartmentalising or dealing with internal conflict. If something doesn't feel right, it might be harder for us to accept it or distract ourselves away from it because we feel it too greatly. 

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