Autism has long been considered a boys' condition, but there is more
to this story. The truth is, autism looks different in women and girls.
They're much better at "pretending to be normal" by masking their
autistic characteristics.
How can we look behind the mask to recognize autism, when it has been so
well camouflaged? Recognizing Autism in Women and Girls: When It Has
Been Hidden Well provides the perspective needed to see how autism
manifests in gendered ways, allowing for a more accurate diagnosis.
In addition to describing each point in the diagnostic manual to include
feminine presentations, Dr. Marsh has created "Seven Fictional Female
Figures" who've been misdiagnosed because they also display symptoms of
other similar conditions. She describes their behaviors, both obvious
and hidden, from early childhood to adulthood, and demonstrates how
these behaviors meet diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder.
The "Behind the Mask" section provides helpful questions to ask during
the autism assessment process to allow the professional to recognize
autism, even when it has been successfully masked. In addition, each
chapter contains "In Her Own Words," written by autistic women who
describe their personal journeys from masking to diagnosis, and what it
means to them. Being recognized at last for who they truly are frees
autistic women to stop hiding behind a mask and begin opening doors to
success.
