Page 1 of 1 [ 5 posts ] 

kdm1984
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

User avatar

Joined: 31 May 2012
Gender: Female
Posts: 443
Location: SW MO, USA

01 Jun 2012, 11:43 pm

I've read several threads here that touch upon the issue in some manner, but I thought I'd make an even more specific one to see where opinion may stand now.

Classification, especially of the conceptual nature given to categories like Aspergers, Myers-Briggs, religion, politics, etc. will likely always be up for debate, but I was wondering if there is any kind of general "consensus" right now that seems to fit Asperger women, no matter how broad? Any little bit helps.

There is just something about me that doesn't quite fit. I had the language skills typical to my gender - excelled in writing, spelling, etc. - but I was always a tomboy, more blunt socially, not into as much chat about relationships/feelings, very interested in a lot of more typical male activities like sports, progressive rock, video games, philosophical discussion, etc. Women also tend to be less receptive to Aspergerian traits like rituals, obsessions, and the like.

If it helps any, I will admit that one site I found very helpful was help4aspergers .com by Rudy Simone. I really related to her list of female Aspie traits. My mom also did.

The problem I have with the more typical diagnostic criteria (DSM) is how much of an emphasis they place on extreme social maladjustment. I got through school without much incident, and I even found some folks who either tolerated me or found me interesting or different enough to maintain contact - it's the adult working world with all its changes and adaptive requirements that has thrown me for a loop.

So at what line is it drawn for one to be officially Asperger or not, and how does it differ across gender?



Scatmaster
Blue Jay
Blue Jay

User avatar

Joined: 2 Feb 2012
Age: 32
Gender: Female
Posts: 86

01 Jun 2012, 11:46 pm

I like the way Tony Attwood puts it:

http://www.tonyattwood.com.au/index.php ... Itemid=720



kdm1984
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

User avatar

Joined: 31 May 2012
Gender: Female
Posts: 443
Location: SW MO, USA

01 Jun 2012, 11:53 pm

Thank you for that excellent link. Attwood, as usual, is cogent in his presentation. My list of apologies is enough to fill a book, and I had an imaginary planet with many nations and lead characters that I enjoyed well into my teens.



Kjas
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 26 Feb 2012
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 6,059
Location: the place I'm from doesn't exist anymore

02 Jun 2012, 12:25 am

As far as the "official line" part, it's not that many of us are not aspie, but rather we present slightly differently.

It is much more acceptable for a girl to be shy. Or smart. Or sensitive. Which means that these characteristics are seen as "normal" to some extent. And our interests often can be of "normal" things and therefore the main difference is in intensity. My love of reading was never a cause for alarm. The fact that I could (and often would) read for 24 hours straight without remembering to eat or sleep should have been.

During school, some of us manage to have people who tolerate us. After schooling finishes however, we do not tend to have friends - that is a pretty key sign.

It's not until you get older, then it really shows up - women are expected to be the "socially capable" ones, knowing exactly what to say and do, especially when it comes to emotional situations. We are expected to want to go shopping, hang out in groups, go clubbing etc. Often this is another key sign, since most of these things we would rather avoid or are not capable of.

We can imitate to some extent - at least a bit better than most boys can. This helps us "blend in" further, which can confuse a clinician.

It's not a matter of whether or not we are aspie - it's about more studies being done of female AS/ASD population and clinicians learning to recognize how we present. They are essentially playing "catch up" in this area because almost all the official studies and such so far have been almost entirely male orientated.

Those who are specialists in the field know this is a problem, and the general consensus and much of their thinking aligns with Attwoods on the matter. I know in my city they have some who specialize in young aspie women - but this has been an emerging specialty.


_________________
Diagnostic Tools and Resources for Women with AS: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt211004.html


Scatmaster
Blue Jay
Blue Jay

User avatar

Joined: 2 Feb 2012
Age: 32
Gender: Female
Posts: 86

02 Jun 2012, 6:33 am

Kjas wrote:
It is much more acceptable for a girl to be shy. Or smart. Or sensitive. Which means that these characteristics are seen as "normal" to some extent. And our interests often can be of "normal" things and therefore the main difference is in intensity. My love of reading was never a cause for alarm. The fact that I could (and often would) read for 24 hours straight without remembering to eat or sleep should have been.


Yes, I passed off as being shy and smart. I had to problems in school before I started having major social challenges. Girls tend to retreat in their own world and come off as daydreamers in class, whereas it seems boys tend to act out and get noticed as being different.

The only problems in school I had though were in reading comprehension, and that seems to be pretty universal. This includes things like reading fictional novels and not being able to predict what the characters would do. I always had trouble figuring out other people's feelings. I also lose interest when I need to learn things which aren't my special interests.

Another commonality is that women can be manipulated more easily by their peers, especially in the earlier years. They can have a friend who takes them under their wing and tries to teach them social skills, since women have a different way of socializing (they don't bully those who are different). They also sometimes try to mimic the social skills of others. I became interested in acting to try to come across as more social than I was, but it was all a fake version of myself.

But it's hard to say common traits across the board, since there is more research dedicated to boys and men. Obsessions tend to be typical girl interests, and aren't noticed. They can be things like Harry Potter, dolls, horses, etc but differ in intensity and frequency.