Male-Femal differences in experiencing life with Aspergers?

I have been looking on Youtube at videos about Aspergers. I have found a few interesting videos (and a larger number of uninteresting or downright annoying ones!).

Among the most interesting so far, to me, is one called: "Adult Female Asperger's Traits" - don't know if it will paste, but here's an attempt to paste the link:- 

www.youtube.com/watch

It seems to have worked.  Well my reason for having found this so interesting is that I found myself recognizing very many of the 'traits' listed throughout the 4 minutes or so of the video.  Not all of them, but a large majority of them really did ring true.  I am not female though, I am a 55 year old male who has recentyl started the process of being diagnosed. I am now wondering whether (a) it is not meaningful to split AS traits into male / femal, as they are common regardless of gender, or (b) whether I am unusual in having highly female characteristics.

Anyone got any knowedge or thougts on this?

Parents
  • hi Techno - I'm undiagnosed as yet, except I scored pretty high on the Baron-Cohen thing. I'm gearing up to start the process myself. I've hesitated because I am female. I think just as people vary a lot, so do 'traits' and the ones which manifest most frequently in females have tended to be overlooked. I don't think manifesting them  makes anyone more 'feminine' just as manifesting the male traits doesn't make someone more 'masculine'. 

    The traits in that video seem entirely  'normal' to me, but if i'm autistic they would! Can't help there.

    About the heart attack reference, there is no connection with autism. I mentioned it as an example of how the male view of an illness dominates in society and the medical profession. 'Pressured businessman in suit and tie having chest pains' kind of thing. Women tend to have different symptons and get ignored/sent home/die.

    www.webmd.boots.com/.../her-guide-to-a-heart-attack

    Good luck with your assessment -

Reply
  • hi Techno - I'm undiagnosed as yet, except I scored pretty high on the Baron-Cohen thing. I'm gearing up to start the process myself. I've hesitated because I am female. I think just as people vary a lot, so do 'traits' and the ones which manifest most frequently in females have tended to be overlooked. I don't think manifesting them  makes anyone more 'feminine' just as manifesting the male traits doesn't make someone more 'masculine'. 

    The traits in that video seem entirely  'normal' to me, but if i'm autistic they would! Can't help there.

    About the heart attack reference, there is no connection with autism. I mentioned it as an example of how the male view of an illness dominates in society and the medical profession. 'Pressured businessman in suit and tie having chest pains' kind of thing. Women tend to have different symptons and get ignored/sent home/die.

    www.webmd.boots.com/.../her-guide-to-a-heart-attack

    Good luck with your assessment -

Children
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