Autism Camouflaging in Women
We can see Camouflaging in many animals. Animals have evolved and exhibit masking characteristics which helps them to blend with their environment. We Homo sapiens have also evolved and we are still learning from nature. This camouflaging can be seen in autistic women which help them to mix with surrounding environment. They use this tendency to cover up their social difficulties.
They try to act normal by mixing with people, try to communicate with them, try to make eye contact and hide anxious and nervous face. They show that they are more involved in the conversation. As women are known for their shyness, control on their interactions, and their overall adjusting behavior, autism is late detected or seems to be invisible in women. They always get to hear, “You don’t seem to be autistic”.¹
Hence, a lot of times autism is thought to be a male condition, which is not the true case. Many girls are concealed on the autism for which major reason is seen to be the fact that they are females. Only 1 out of four girls are identified with autism spectrum. As females show symptoms of autism slightly different than men which makes it difficult to diagnose. Women conceal social difficulties more frequently than men causing autism to camouflage in women.
They may mask up to blend with the society, which can support them in their professional and social areas, but on the other side, it can cause them serious harm. Unidentified or late diagnosed autism in women can lead to mental illness. So it is essential that they get identified early. We see that nearly everyone is making some or the other adjustments to fit in the surrounding, to be a part of the surrounding, but camouflaging is different, it needs continuous efforts, constantly taking hold of your actions which can be fatigue.
Imagine we are told to be a different person, having entirely contrasting behavior. Imagine the efforts needed to mask your usual behavior. Sounds tiresome and being constantly under stress, isn’t it? Maybe we could do it for some time but not being yourself can be totally exhausting. The efforts made to fit in can increase stress, anxiety, and depression.
But “why try to fit in when we are made to stand out?” Be different, be who you are, be unique.
Kidaura is on a journey to rejoice the differences, to create a more inclusive world. Kidaura extends a helping hand in early identification and helps both boys and girls so that they dont lose their golden years. Kidaura cares, provides support and early intervention so that children can make the best use of their potential.²
“Don’t hide, instead appreciate your uniqueness and stand out with pride”
References
Sarah-Jane Critchley, teachwire News (2019):Why Autism Goes Unseen in Girls — And How You Can Spot It[Accessed 13 June 2019]https://www.teachwire.net/news/why-autism-goes-unseen-in-girls-and-how-you-can-spot-it?fbclid=IwAR3875GFusNoFQjcIgAZmaXfYUfiGT5zrqMEC0_Gmr8ZAvbi7X-GjCrJtWo
Kidaura: a young initiative helping children find their hidden potential and nurture their personalities by rejoicing the differences[Accessed 14 June 2019] https://www.kidaura.in/
