International Women's Day 2024
The theme of International Women’s Day 2024 is inclusion. We are asked to:
Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality.
Autistic women
Did you know that women are more likely than men to gain a diagnosis of autism late in life, or to be misdiagnosed as having a mental illness? Women’s autism can present in more subtle ways than for boys and men.
MacIntyre is a national charity which both employs and supports autistic women, and we have heard many stories of women facing difficulties around diagnosis. This can have a profound effect on women’s inclusion in the workplace and in society.
Social masking
From a very young age, there’s pressure on girls in our society to ‘fit in’, to be ‘nice’ and ‘helpful’. Girls begin to learn there are certain behaviours and social interactions which are more acceptable than others.
One of the key ways in which autistic girls and women adapt their behaviour is through masking.
This involves camouflaging autistic traits by imitating neurotypical behaviours in social situations, consciously mimicking social norms to fit in. While masking can help women navigate social interactions more smoothly, it can also be mentally and emotionally exhausting, leading to increased stress and burnout over time.
An article in Psychology Today states:
Camouflaging behaviours often employed by women with autism include forcing themselves to make eye contact, using memory techniques to remember suitable conversation topics, suppressing autistic tendencies, and/or trying to engage in “normal” social behaviours. Autistic women aren’t alone in camouflaging, but research suggests they are more likely to camouflage than neurotypicals or autistic men.
How can employers be more inclusive?
At MacIntyre, we approach the question of inclusivity for autistic women in a number of ways.
- Our Diversity Advisory Group* has a team which focuses on neurodiversity. They are developing ‘toolkits’ for managers based on best practice and people’s lived experience.
- We run an Autism Network for autistic employees and people we support. There are regular events, at which parents and siblings are also welcome, and they are co-hosted by an autistic employee.
- We run a wide range of online and in person training courses on supporting autistic people.
- And perhaps most importantly of all, we try to foster an inclusive workplace culture in which autistic employees – indeed all employees – can have their individual needs accommodated in the best way for them.
There’s more we can do, we won’t always get it correct, but we’re on the right path. #InspireInclusion
* A group of employees who advise senior management on issues around equity, diversity and inclusion