1. Health of Autistic Women: State of the Field and Future Directions
- Author
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Hull, Laura, speaker, Kassous, Imene, speaker, Putnam, Orla, speaker, Hamdani, Yani, speaker, Harmens, Miriam, speaker, Sedgewick, Felicity, speaker, and Harrop, Clare, speaker
- Abstract
At least 1% of the world’s population is autistic, meaning that they experience and process the world around them in ways which are different to the non-autistic majority. Historically, the focus of research and the image of autism has very much been male. Changes to the diagnostic conceptualisation of autism in the last 20 years, however, has led to an increase in the diagnosis of autism in women and girls, and the recognition that they may have different life experiences and support needs than autistic men. Having been ignored, overlooked, and at times actively silenced, much less is known about autistic women than their male counterparts. The study of autistic women is still in its infancy, but suggests that there are a wide range of differences which are only just beginning to be understood in terms of how autism interacts with gender - including those who are transgender, non-binary, or have other gender identities. This special collection from Women’s Health will explore what is known about the physical, mental, social, and emotional wellbeing of autistic women, encompassing original research, reviews, and perspectives from autistic women.
- Published
- 2024
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