Meet My Autistic Brain Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum
Mar 24, 2025
Join author and diagnostician Sarah Hendrickx as she explores the often-overlooked world of women and girls on the autism spectrum. She shares her personal experience of a late diagnosis and the societal misconceptions that can lead to masking. Discover why autistic women face unique challenges, from navigating social cues to their intense, mastery-driven interests. Sarah discusses the intricate dynamics of their relationships and identity while emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and authenticity in a world that often misunderstands them.
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Sarah's Late Autism Diagnosis
- Sarah Hendrickx discovered she was autistic in her early 40s after extensive work in autism without realizing it herself.
- Her late diagnosis was partly because early autism profiles focused mainly on males and didn't fit her experience.
Masking Masks Female Autism
- Masking and imitation are core reasons autism is underdiagnosed in females.
- Existing autism templates were based on male profiles, missing diverse female presentations.
Reading Social Cues Differently
- Autistic women are hypervigilant to subtle social cues but often misinterpret their meaning negatively.
- They see details others miss but struggle to decode their true significance in social contexts.
