Living Inside An Iron Mask

How masking negatively impacts the autistic community.

a phantom of the opera style mask lying on a white cloth with a swirling ribbon at the bottom. — Photo by Tamara Gak on Unsplash

Autistic people are pressured by society to act neurotypical. The autistic community is seen as an outsider to mainstream society. People put on masks to blend in with neurotypical society. Wearing the invisible mask means learning to force eye contact, and practicing behind the scenes for interactions with neurotypical people.

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