Autistic Traits in Males and Females.

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"not feeling like a proper female" is one of the traits on the list for autistic females.

Oh, and I think it's a pretty common feeling. I don't even call myself a woman.

Well that is just one, I have never seen this list of traits or how it compares to the list of traits that are supposedly more common for males so yeah I am not really sure if there is a difference. I mean that alone to me does not seem like it would be an aspergers thing.....but maybe.

It's not strictly an autistic trait.

But the list is here: http://www.help4aspergers.com/pb/wp_a58 ... 83e339.JPG

I don't think these are strictly traits that autistic women primarily have. It's what Rudy Simone documented from AS women, however.

Well some of that sort of applies to me, but that list seems outdated it just kind of gives off that vibe........like its worded kind of condecendingly in my opinion. So I am not sure what my reaction should be.

There is no "should." If you don't like it, you don't like it.

I think gender nonconformity is much more common among autistic people in general, not just women, though. This is something I've seen others observe in other places (including this forum). I wouldn't say that means that it's a part of autism, there could easily be other reasons (this level of gender nonconformity may be typical, but autistic people are more likely to characterize it in particular explicit ways, perhaps?).

I can't really tell if it's worded condescendingly or not. The woman who assembled it herself has AS, though.

*looks at Verandi's new avatar*

KITTY!! !! !! !

Anyway.....

In regards to autism and gender non-conformity, I suspect much of it has to do with the extent that socio-political gender norms are non-logical and arbitrary. For example, there's nothing biological or genetic that requires men to have short hair and women to have long hair. It's strictly cultural and it's a custom that has changed greatly depending on the time and place; however, people still get enraged if you don't conform.

Also, much of "gender" is learned through observation and imitation. Personally, I rarely thought to imitate my peers, or my family.

With some research attention still focused on hormonal influences in autism I think it makes sense that females may present differently than males. There are variations and degrees of everything in this world and it simply makes no sense to try and stuff all individuals into a single mold. I think gender can create distinctions but that it isn't a reliable hard and fast rule.

If a women on the spectrum has inheritied a higher level of estrogen than another she very well may present much differently than a female with much less circulating estrogen, or higher circulating testosterone. I think that list just represents one possible variation. Considering hoe many times that list has been discussed, I have yet to see a guy step up and say he felt those criteria fit him yet many women identify with it. Anecdotal but compelling evidence.

I've seen several guys say so, actually. In the women's subforum.

That makes more sense... if women can having varying hormones levels... so can the guys.

Wait, why are the guys in the Women's subforum? Not that there's a law or anything but I would stay out of a men's forum... like seperate restrooms...

The one trait that ALL aspies have , holds a world of traits inside and that is EVERY ASPIE WEARS A MASK , until they marry then they will take it off for their spouse, yet keep it for the world.

There can be overlap, surely. I'm a male diagnosed with ASD, and I'm someone who was actually relatively 'normal' (socially speaking) until around the age of eight. Apparently this is a common autistic trait in females rather than males.

Either being extremely skinny with an incredibly unusually fast metabolism. Or being fat with a very slow metabolism is a trait. Science just has to figure out why that is a trait though

Being double jointed or hypermobile is another one too.

Interesting

Is that an autistic trait or a separate random condition?

My GF has not been diagnosed with ASD ( I suspect she is ) , she does have really bad dyslexia which can mimic some autistic traits , however she is double jointed or hypermobile , is extremely skinny with an incredibly unusually fast metabolism and also appears to have a portrait of herself in the attic.

Me and my brother are on the spectrum, but funnily enough I was diagnosed at 8 years old and I'm a female, while he went completely unnoticed right up until last year, when he met his friend's teenage sister who was quite low-functioning autistic. After meeting her he suddenly decided he may be on the spectrum (even though growing up with a sister of his own on the spectrum wasn't enough to convince him ), and he went through the process of getting assessed and everything, then finally received a diagnosis of Asperger's a couple of months ago. I always thought he had bipolar or personality disorder or even depression, but Asperger's really surprised me.

Maybe it's a mutation associated with the autism gene.