Link between autism and gender dysphoria

[mids2019]

Anecdotally at my children's school there seems to be a few autistic children that have really entrenched views of the trans rights groups being correct and everyone having the right to self ID.

Could it be that gender dysphoria has a connection to neuro divergence? In a sense maybe the desire to change sex is a result of feeling socially isolated coupled with a desperation that changing sex would be an answer to the symptoms of autism?

It seems to me if gender dysphoria was treated from a neurological/psychological perspective there may be some positive outcomes. It could be that for instant the child simply has same sex attraction and therapy could help decouple the sexual attraction from feeling of being the wrong sex.

The problem currently with an affirmation only model is that vulnerable children are being pushed down a certain path without any psychological evaluation.

This is from a couple of years ago, but touched on similar at the time. (It was a previous name of mine)

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4283610-Autism-and-Trans-blog?reply=108632560

I’m late diagnosed and the link is obvious to me.

For girls especially, it’s about not feeling able to perform femininity like society expects girls to nowadays. Having to learn advanced make up techniques (sensory issues might make the idea of wearing layers of foundation, concealer etc etc intolerable anyway). It’s about feeling as physically awkward as you are socially. Sensory issues mean you prefer baggy clothing. Struggling to find a peer group that understands you. Struggling to socialise when you might hate the idea of drinking and clubbing. Being terrified of sex and relationships and feeling desperate just to push all those expectations AWAY.

I have a horrible suspicion that autistic boys will tend to head towards the incel to trans pipeline, all very porn and anime driven.

Both boys and girls will be motivated by the social cachet of being trans, of joining queer social circles and finally feeling like they’ve found their tribe.

I’m sure I’ve read or heard the impact on boys with asc or other neurodivergent conditions- it does affect them.

I think in relation to sexuality rather than fitting in - I think possibly linking to agp because they turn the focus naturally inwards. It may have been a Phil Illey interview with Benjamin Boyce.

Particularly affecting boys with asc who are on-line a lot and so disassociate from their physical body, get into manga/ anime leading to hentai (pornographic anime) and with creating their avatars on-line want to become their avatar

Richie Heron is a detransitioner who has ocd - he said that obsessive component made him lock onto transitioning as the solution to all his problems

Placemarking for later.

It seems blindingly obvious to me (late diagnosed autistic woman) why adolescent autistic girls decide they are trans.

Female puberty brings sensory hell from developing bodies and periods. It also brings in the Male gaze. Social situations get even more complex and loaded. The expectations of how girls/women are social are significantly higher than for men/boys. Bullying for simply being yourself escalates resulting in multiple daily reminders of how you are “wrong”. There is no rule book which can be followed for how to be.

But wait. What if you are actually a transboy? Which has a definitive framework of how to look, how to behave, what medical interventions are “necessary”, when they should happen.

A social outcast joins a sacred cast which has flags, clubs, events, and national celebration. Swift punishment is doled out to anyone who fails to use the prescribed language or who bully them from both officials(teachers, police etc) “Allies” will rally round the bullied transboy, turning on the terf (while increasing their social status). This is a complete contrast to how derogatory language around autism and bullying of autistic girls is handled.

It is the ultimate Glow Up.

Could ASD to some extent explain some of the reactions of trans people to the arguments put forward by GC people? It seems that someone the trans community become quickly offended by even the fact there is debate around sex and gender and their reactions in terms of language (and action) seems extreme. If some one is leaning on trans ideology as a truth (maybe akin to religion) and it is questioned does that have a particularly strong impact on someone whose thinking maybe regimented?

If some one is leaning on trans ideology as a truth (maybe akin to religion) and it is questioned does that have a particularly strong impact on someone whose thinking maybe regimented?

It’s a well-known autistic trait to be fixated on ideas of fairness and justice. It’s also common to be rigid thinkers, black and white thinkers, to be socially naive and easily coerced.

So it doesn’t surprise me one bit that autistic young people are so easily groomed into this cult and become fully immersed in it.

A social outcast joins a sacred cast which has flags, clubs, events, and national celebration […] It is the ultimate Glow Up.

If the opportunity was available to me as a teen in the late 90s, I would have grabbed that glow up with both hands.

The way anything that is not completely in agreement is treated is strongly reminiscent of The Inquisition.

They are possibly modelling how dissent is treated on this.

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/malleus-maleficarum-ebook.html

☝️☝️☝️☝️
I wish this could be printed out and handed to every health professional who works with young autistic people who are questioning their gender identity.
Concise and insightful.

Although I'd come across the "becoming my avatar" issue, I hadn't really thought specifically about autism in it all.
Your post joins up some dots for me and makes a lot of sense.

This is a great post

I have so much to say on this, but a) its before work and Im exhausted already and b) most of you will have already said it

I also wish the term 'gender dysphoria' in these situations would be changed to 'feeling uncomfortable with yourself', because thats all it is.

But the short answer is yes, its a huge hook for people with ASD, particuarly girls, to hang on to, to give them some meaning to the feelings of difference and awkwardness, some validation, some identity which they can label, which becomes more concrete (black and white thinking). Im not being very articulate but yes there is a huge link and its the elephant in the room.

It's very similar to online radicalisation by extremist groups (Islamism, FRE). Those groups also have history of attracting autistic individuals, providing rigid rules for fitting in and "love bombing" them, socially grooming them, making them feel part of a big in-group. When you struggle with social interaction in real life, having that welcoming group of mates online who are pleased to see you and call you Brother, is so seductive.

A significant proportion of the young people in prison for terrorist offences are autistic.

Thank you. This is a very helpful post.

Sunshine support isn’t a charity it’s a profit making company

A quick google search will tell you yes, there's lots of evidence to support the link

@Morph22010

"Sunshine support isn’t a charity it’s a profit making company"

I'm glad you said that! I always see them, recommend it to support as if they are a charity and people don't realise that they charge. It smacks very much of taking money from vulnerable, desperate people, and I hate seeing it!!

Reading the post with interest. How did those with a late autistic diagnosis get the diagnosis, and what made you suspect you had autism? I often wonder about my dd now she is an older teen, it's lots of little things that make me wonder.

And it comes back to misogyny.

Research into autism is in boys. White boys. Girls are not the stereotype of autism because we are not boys.

Support for autism I've seen local to me is all Lego clubs and minecraft. Great for boys with 'male' gender not so great for the girly girls.

So I'm looking for support groups the girls can o it do the boy things where if they enjoy it it's because they really should be a boy? Not because it's a neurodiverse social group...

Side note of course there is Harry Potter which a few female autistics have. A combine special interest. Despite JKR being a literal saint that group of people are so moderated speech and pro gender woo.

The thing is though virtually all if not all support groups are run by volunteers now there is nothing funded and often when people start a group it’s because they want something available for their own child to attend so nsturally thry will choose something that their own child is interested in. Maybe you could start a group thst is more of interest to your daughter and hopefully other autistic girls will come along

Well I always knew I had autistic traits, but was horrified when I took a screening test online that said maybe I should take it further. Years later my then 4yo son was put on the waiting list for an autism assessment. I thought again about the possibility of me being autistic and the penny dropped. I realised it would explain basically everything about me, my life, and why I’ve always felt different from other people.

Looked further into female traits and realised that not only did it fit me, it fit my daughter too. My kids were diagnosed by the NHS but I went private.

The young people I know who have bought into the ideology/been groomed online are most certainly ND. They’re also, quite simply, gay. It’s very difficult to witness.

My sister is autistic and NB/trans
She says she always felt different to others and thinks it's due to gender
This combined with ND rigid thinking and a new friend group after difficulties making friends makes it v easy for people with autism to get sucked into this, in my opinion

I went privately for my diagnosis. I realised I was autistic after having autistic kids