Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum, Second Edition: Understanding Life Experiences from Early Childhood to Old Age

The second edition of "The Difference That Being Female Makes to the Diagnosis, Life, and Experiences of an Autistic Person" combines the latest research with personal stories from girls and women on the autism spectrum to provide a comprehensive understanding of their feelings, thoughts, and experiences at each stage of life. It outlines the likely impact on autistic women and girls throughout their lifespan, covering topics such as diagnosis, childhood, education, adolescence, friendships, sexuality, employment, pregnancy, parenting, and aging.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2024
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers

The impact of gender on the diagnosis, life, and experiences of autistic individuals is profound and far-reaching. In this extensively revised and expanded second edition, Sarah Hendrickx brings together the latest research with personal accounts from girls and women on the autism spectrum to provide a comprehensive portrayal of their emotions, thoughts, and experiences at various stages of their lives. By examining the likely effects on autistic women and girls throughout their lifespan, Hendrickx explores a wide range of topics, including diagnosis, childhood, education, adolescence, friendships, sexuality, employment, pregnancy, parenting, and aging. With updated information on masking, diagnosis later in life, and a renewed emphasis on the voices of trans and non-binary individuals, as well as a deeper exploration of specific health and wellbeing concerns such as menopause, PCOS, Hypermobility/Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, autistic burnout, and alexithymia, this book serves as an invaluable resource for professionals and a guiding light for autistic women to better understand and contextualize their own experiences.

The difference that being female makes to the diagnosis, life, and experiences of an autistic person is hugely significant.

In this widely expanded second edition, Sarah Hendrickx combines the latest research with personal stories from girls and women on the autism spectrum to present a picture of their feelings, thoughts, and experiences at each stage of their lives.

Outlining the likely impact will be for autistic women and girls throughout their lifespan, Hendrickx surveys everything from diagnosis, childhood, education, adolescence, friendships and sexuality, to employment, pregnancy, parenting, and aging.

With up-to-date content on masking, diagnosis later in life, and a new focus on trans and non-binary voices, as well as a deeper dive into specific health and wellbeing implications including menopause, PCOS, Hypermobility/Ehlers-Danlos, autistic burnout, and alexithymia, this is an invaluable companion for professionals, as well as a guiding light for autistic women to understand and interpret their own experience in context.

Weight: 452g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781805010692