‘And that’s Just About Gender … I'm Doing all of that Feeling Like an Alien in a Human Suit': Exploring the Lived Experiences of Masking in Autistic Women

Autism research is often androcentric, and the experiences of autistic women have historically been underexplored. Recently, some researchers have argued that autistic women may experience a distinct phenotype (female autism), characterised in part by the ability to mask autistic social difficulties. However, others argue that the experience of autistic women is shaped by gender expectations and perceptions, and not the result of an essentialised difference. This study aimed to explore the lived experience of masking among autistic women from their own viewpoint, guided by feminist perspectives on epistemic injustice (Fricker, 2007), and standpoint theory, which emphasise social power and gendered norms as driving factors in how experiences are understood and validated. We conducted semi-structured interviews with six late-diagnosed autistic women, and used interpretative phenomenological analysis to analyse the data. We identified three themes; ‘Reconciliation of Two Identities’, ‘Interplay of Masking and Individual Notions of Womanhood in Society’, and ‘Autism, Masking, and Interpersonal Relationships’. Our findings highlight the ways that gendered expectations can influence self-knowledge, shaping motivations to mask and the experience of masking itself. These findings have important implications for support for autistic women at all stages of the lifespan and diagnostic process.