‘And that’s Just About Gender … I'm Doing all of that Feeling Like an Alien in a Human Suit': Exploring the Lived Experiences of Masking in Autistic Women

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Alwis, S. D., Pearson, A., & Hodgetts, S. (2026). ‘And that’s Just About Gender … I'm Doing all of that Feeling Like an Alien in a Human Suit': Exploring the Lived Experiences of Masking in Autistic Women. Feminism & Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/09593535261445110

Publication date: 6 May 2026 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
3
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 3 (33.3%)
  1. Sumeera De Alwis
  2. Amy Pearson *
  3. Sophie Hodgetts

Abstract

Autism research is often androcentric, and the experiences of autistic women have historically been underexplored. Recently, some researchers have argued that autistic women may experience a distinct phenotype (female autism), characterised in part by the ability to mask autistic social difficulties. However, others argue that the experience of autistic women is shaped by gender expectations and perceptions, and not the result of an essentialised difference. This study aimed to explore the lived experience of masking among autistic women from their own viewpoint, guided by feminist perspectives on epistemic injustice and standpoint theory, which emphasise social power and gendered norms as driving factors in how experiences are understood and validated. We conducted semistructured interviews with six late-diagnosed autistic women, and used interpretative phenomenological analysis to analyse the data. We identified three themes: ‘reconciliation of two identities’, ‘interplay of masking and individual notions of womanhood in society’ and ‘autism, masking and interpersonal relationships’. Our findings highlight the ways that gendered expectations can influence self-knowledge, shaping motivations to mask and the experience of masking itself. These findings have important implications for support for autistic women at all stages of the lifespan and diagnostic process.

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Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
47
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
8 / 47 (17.0%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
17 / 120 (14.2%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 17 / 67 (25.4%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 13 / 98 (13.3%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
67 / 120 (55.8%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 48 / 98 (49.0%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
50 / 67 (74.6%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 50 / 120 (41.7%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 35 / 48 (72.9%).
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