Autism

I am autistic and massively against all of this gender stereotyping etc. It's unintelligble to me, and I also think it is hugely damaging. It makes no sense at all and I think, particularly for autistic girls, these gendered expectations are toxic.

I have an ASD 11 yr old DD who I’m very worried will fall into the trans trap. I have traits and grew up thinking I had a male brain, now I realise there’s no such thing aside from hormones and socialisation effects. DH has been diagnosed as being on the spectrum and thinks it’s nonsense to the extent that he can’t believe anyone would be taken in or others would need to combat elements of the ideology.

I’m too logical and can’t ignore reality, although I feel a lot of empathy for “genuine” trans people, whatever that means now.

Very interesting thread.

Please define acronyms in first usage. What does GC mean?

Me, I had a private assessment when I was 39 (moment of realization after researching about autism for my son and having a lightbulb moment). I had an assessment as I am full of self doubt (being in an abusive relationship part of it) and kept getting told I wasn't or didn't seem autistic so I found the validation useful for me.

I'm GC, and I'm in some Facebook groups for females with autism, but feel I can't speak up about being gender critical without being called transphobic or other terms.

Me. Adult diagnosis following my daughter’s diagnosis. GC bordering on obsessive!

Yes my dd who is 25 and diagnosed autistic. But she feels like she has to keep it under wraps from her peer group as she hates confrontation.

She also doesn't like lies.

Yup. Diagnosed as a teen, back in the hey-day of 'male brain' and Baron-Cohen. Fortunately diagnosed before I discovered the internet. Apart from the other benefits, I am thankful for that because I can see how otherwise I could have hung all my issues on 'being born in the wrong body'. Asperger's Syndrome was a label that came with far less irreversible medical treatment.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4000607-Speech-by-Emily-Weir-of-Gender-Critical-Autistics

Have you seen this thread? It’s links to a Facebook group for GC Austistic people

Me

I thought being a boy was better than being a girl from as young as I can remember, refused to wear skirts and dresses except on very special occasions, hated bows and ribbons in my hair that occasionally I was made to wear for gymnastics displays. I was a short haired tomboy until I started to want to fit in at school and lost my way a bit.

Even into my early 20s, I thought having a 'male brain' was better, worked in a male dominated field and related much more to men.

It was playing football that introduced me to other women like me and helped me to discover that being a woman and feeling like me was completely normal.

I would've been very vulnerable to trans ideology and I'm glad the internet wasn't invented until I was much older.

I was very naive and a late developer as far as relationships and sexuality are concerned. I had no idea I was attracted to other women until my 20s. I very much doubt that I am the only autistic woman who grew up like this and am fearful for the other autistic women and girls who are being convinced that their gender is somehow wrong because they haven't had the life experience to discover their sexuality yet.

@Suffrajester - your post is one of the sanest, wisest, best considered and articulate comments I have ever seen on the subject. More people of your generation need to hear what you have said. My DS2 is autistic as is my DH and I get so sick of the idea that they have to conform. How they are is fine. Different, but fine and in many ways preferable to the average NT people I encounter.
Your comments are so astute. I hope your FB page gets a wide readership. It could steer some unhappy teens away from some very dangerous life decisions.

I'm gendervague, apparently, which means that I have no strong feelings about my own gender whatsoever. I don't understand how someone can 'feel' like a woman or 'feel' like a man. It makes zero sense to me.

I'm a person and I have bits that are called female bits. Being called dude or man doesn't bother me. Gendered activities are to me just activities and I don't understand why some people relate them to one sex or the other.

I completely respect that some people do have strong feelings about this and I don't feel entitled to dispute that, but I think that sexism and society telling people that they should do or feel xyz because of what's between their legs is actually the base problem, and has led to people feeling out of place.

Does that make me GC? I dunno. But I am autistic.

One of the reasons for the Autism Act 2009 and subsequent autism strategies was that autistic people fall through the gaps of disability policy. They aren't always recognised as disabled which means they have to fight for services. (Autism policy scholar here)

My tween daughter is autistic and currently GC but I'm aware she's young and may still be copying me!

My diagnosis definitely "counts" as proof of a disability at work where I have some accommodations (I also had help from Access to Work).

Also awaiting diagnosis.

I should say most people with autism would meet the criteria for ‘disabled’ but some would say they are not disabled and therefore would not be entitled to reasonable adjustment (though they could still be discriminated against or harassed).

I’m another autistic radical feminist. NHS diagnosed in my forties.

Being female and autistic makes it likely to have collected a number of mental health diagnoses along with a large number of negative personality labels long before you get autistic.

My lived experience means I can absolutely see why autistic girls can think trans could be the answer. It also means I am old enough to think that it isn’t despite the logic that means a trans boy will have a much easier time socially than an autistic girl.

It’s also worth remembering that any online service is likely to have a higher proportion of out autistic people on it than you’ll meet in RL.

Falleninwiththewrongcrowd as I am not sure that your question was answered, occupational health at my work suggested taking the AQ-10 and approaching my GP with the score, the reasons why I think I may be autistic and the impact this has on me to ask for a referral (I did the full AQ as well). I think you can find these tools online. I understand that the waiting list for a referral/diagnosis is pretty substantial.

I think an interesting side question would be, how many of us with autistic traits have managed to accidentally out ourselves to "friends" as not being fully and unquestioningly on board with the TRA agenda and have been harassed/ostracised as a result. Raises hand

It’s a polite term for someone who believes that trans women are not women

There's a bit more to it than that.

I'm GC and not autistic. Not especially logical/fact-driven either. More arty, creative type. But even I can see that biology is real and denying biological facts doesn't help anyone.