My older brother is autistic. Having been exposed to and interested in issues regarding this disorder since early childhood, I considered myself highly knowledgeable and passionate about the subject. I have celebrated the TV representation of prominent individuals on the spectrum, such as in Atypical or Rain Man. However, my expertise took a hit when I only recently stumbled upon Paige Layle’s TikTok videos. Layle is autistic herself and makes advocacy videos focusing on autism in girls. How could I, such an “autism expert,” have missed this entirely? Where are all the autistic females in the media?
All the TV shows mentioned above, and most others that discuss autism, are centered on the male experience. This lack of female representation certainly does not serve well to the current problem of autism spectrum disorder misdiagnosis in girls. In one of her videos, Layle reveals that although she got her autism diagnosis at age 15 — considered early for a girl — a male friend of hers got his diagnosis at age two. Receiving a diagnosis in early childhood is standard for boys; in fact, my brother was diagnosed at the same age of two. In Layle’s videos, which have collected millions of views, she opens up about her struggles with having her autism questioned due to her “not looking like autistic” and not fitting into prevalent stereotypes associated with the disorder.
ASD has long been considered a “male” disease, and there are four times more males than females with the diagnosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, researchers have started suggesting this prevalence can be attributed to misdiagnosis in girls, not the nature of the disease. To this day, the disorder has, for the most part, been studied exclusively on males, and the diagnosis model has been developed accordingly. Yet, females often manifest different symptoms than the stereotyped lack of eye contact and poor social skills.
In one of her videos, Layle references this discrepancy when sharing that she is “overly social” and gives “way too much eye contact.” Narrow special interests, another characteristic associated with autism, can appear more mainstream and acceptable in girls, such as in the case of liking boy bands or horses. At the same time, boys tend to show their obsessions in quirkier subjects like train schedules. Such gaps in research have led to situations where many females do not fit the ASD model and are, therefore, left out from appropriate treatment.
An article by the Child Mind Institute presents a real scenario with two siblings who both have an autism diagnosis. But while the daughter’s symptoms were much more obvious than her brother’s, it took her much longer and many more doctors to find the appropriate diagnosis. This scenario sheds light on how even when girls do fit into the “stereotypical” ASD model, their symptoms are overlooked with providers going so far to try and explain them through other reasons besides being on the spectrum.
Misdiagnoses and delayed diagnoses can also lead girls to end up doing what Layle calls masking. When they aren’t provided with a clear-cut reason for their symptoms, the autistic individual starts copying their peers’ behavior in detail and eventually starts appearing like them, even though they do not feel natural doing it. Needless to say, masking can take a significant toll on the individual’s mental health as the mistreatment of ASD often leads to depression, anxiety, and the loss of self-esteem — ramifications that will persist as long as the media representation of autistic individuals does not cater to less stereotypical people on the spectrum.
Currently, the most popular works and all of the many I have seen in the media representing autism, are about socially awkward males, like Sam Garnder in Atypical. While the show’s representation of ASD is cause for praise, it is about a white, heterosexual male. And for those whose autism manifests in almost entirely opposite traits than depicted — which holds true for many girls — the show contributes to the one-note media portrayal of autism that invalidates individual experiences. As long as autism is predominantly represented through these stereotypes, only a handful of individuals on the spectrum will benefit. For several others, it will cause more harm than good.
Accurately portrayed autistic female characters on TV means more women can associate their personal symptoms directly to autism, encouraging them to reach out for a diagnosis. Although there have been female characters on TV who have manifested ASD symptoms, they are rarely the focus of the show. Take Saga Norden from the Scandinavian show The Bridge, for instance. While the media praised the show’s portrayal of her apparent autism when she showed such distinct traits like bluntness and inability to build friendships and understand jokes, producers never explicitly confirmed anything, unlike the Netflix show Atypical which vastly revolves around Sam’s condition.
It is crucial to remember that the extensivity of the autism spectrum poses challenges for media representation. Although portraying an autistic character with savant abilities, by far the most common portrayal of autism in the media, is not inaccurate, it only represents around 10 percent of individuals on the spectrum. Moreover, it is crucial for people on the spectrum themselves to be aptly included in the making of media content depicting autism, so representation is based on real, individualized experiences rather than stereotypes.
While research and enhanced medical treatment remain the key tools for improving the diagnosis model and treatment of individuals on the spectrum that fall outside stereotypes, having relatable role models in the media can immensely help women understand themselves better. A more expansive portrayal of all that the spectrum can encompass may also help these women no longer feel like outsiders once they have their previously inexplicable features explained. Take for example Greta Thunberg, a climate activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, who by publicly calling her Asperger syndrome a “superpower,” has inspired many and helped shine a light on the injustice people on the spectrum can experience due to indifference and lack of support. In keeping the ball rolling, the stories of women with ASD need to be spread if they are to inform a more diverse, accurate, and open media representation.
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