“Only Boys Can be Autistic”: A Qualitative Exploration of Gender Stereotype and Socialization on the Diagnostic Journey

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

About the autistic author marker

Tien, I. S., Pearson, A., Sozeri, S., & Seers, K. (2025). “Only Boys Can be Autistic”: A Qualitative Exploration of Gender Stereotype and Socialization on the Diagnostic Journey. Autism in Adulthood, 8(4), 698-709. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2024.0178

Publication date: 9 Jan 2025 Added to AutiHub: 17 Sep 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
4
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 4 (25.0%)

Abstract

Background: Prior research exploring phenotypic gender differences in autism suggests that females are less likely to meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, criteria and receive a diagnosis. Recent findings also propose camouflaging and gendered expectations impact diagnostic rates for those who were not socialized as males, suggesting a male-oriented stereotype and bias within the diagnostic system. As such, this article explores how the male stereotype of autism impacts the diagnostic trajectory of autistic adults. Methods: In total, 24 autistic individuals, consisting of 14 genderqueer, 8 female, and 2 male participants, shared their experiences with the diagnostic system through interviews. The research team conducted a reflexive thematic analysis using theories of gender socialization and feminist disability models. Results: Themes revealed that the male gender is inexplicitly tied to diagnostic representation of autistic individuals, failing to encompass the difficulties experiences of those socialized as females. Clinicians and family members often gave a differential interpretation of symptoms for those who did not identify as male, leading to late or missing diagnoses. Lastly, participants discussed how their socialization as a female directly led to the suppression of their autistic traits. Conclusion: These findings shed light on the pervasive impact of gender stereotypes on diagnosis and recognition of autism. Community Brief What was the purpose of this study? Research shows that girls and women are often less likely to be diagnosed with autism because their challenges can look different from those typically seen in boys. On top of that, some people may mask their difficulties to fit in, which makes spotting the signs even harder. Since many diagnostic tools and clinicians’ understanding of autism are based on the idea that it mostly affects boys, this article looks at how that stereotype creates barriers for non-male individuals to get an accurate diagnosis. What did the researchers do? We interviewed 24 autistic adults. Of these, 14 identified as genderqueer, 8 as female, and 2 as male. We used reflexive thematic analysis, a method that considers both the researchers’ identities (being autistic, etc.) and explains common themes by relating them to other research in the field about disability and gender. What were the results of the study? Our first theme showed that autism is often seen only as a “male” condition, which has led clinicians and family members to overlook the participants’ autism. In another theme, participants shared that the traits that are seen as autistic in males—like their male cousins or siblings—weren’t seen as autism in them. Overall, participants felt that their gender and the expectations that were associated with their gender impacted how they expressed their autism and how others perceived it. How will these findings help autistic adults in the future? This suggests that the diagnostic system may be even more biased than researchers originally thought and that there may be people missing diagnoses as a result.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 19 Sep 2026 01:01.

Cited references
64
With a DOI
58
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
6
6 / 64 (9.4%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
2 / 64 (3.1%)
References with detected author names
62 / 64 (96.9%)
Without detected author names
2
Without a structured title
1
Without a stable identifier
5
References with raw author names still to review
0
References with external metadata lookup issues
1
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
375
From DOI or external metadata
375
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
0
124 / 375 (33.1%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 251 / 375 (66.9%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
10 / 375 (2.7%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 10 / 124 (8.1%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 9 / 270 (3.3%).
  1. Kim Hall (2011). Feminist Disability Studies . Indiana University Press.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  2. Kristen Lyall , Lisa A. Croen , Julie Daniels , Daniele Fallin , Christine Ladd-Acosta , Brian K. Lee et al. (2017). The Changing Epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders . Annual Review of Public Health, 38(1), 81-102. Annual Reviews.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  3. Ruth Defrin , Libby Shramm , Ilana Eli (2009). Gender role expectations of pain is associated with pain tolerance limit but not with pain threshold . Pain, 145(1), 230-236. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health).
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  4. Erica Scharrer , Srividya Ramasubramanian (2015). Intervening in the Media's Influence on Stereotypes of Race and Ethnicity: The Role of Media Literacy Education . Journal of Social Issues, 71(1), 171-185. Wiley.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  5. Victoria Milner , Hollie McIntosh , Emma Colvert , Francesca Happé (2019). A Qualitative Exploration of the Female Experience of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(6), 2389-2402. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  6. Rae Brickhill , Gray Atherton , Andrea Piovesan , Liam Cross (2023). Autism, thy name is man: Exploring implicit and explicit gender bias in autism perceptions . PLOS ONE, 18(8), e0284013. Public Library of Science (PLoS).
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  7. Eric Rubenstein , Lisa D. Wiggins , Li‐Ching Lee (2015). A Review of the Differences in Developmental, Psychiatric, and Medical Endophenotypes Between Males and Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder . Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 27(1), 119-139. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  8. Young Shin Kim , Bennett L. Leventhal , Yun-Joo Koh , Éric Fombonne , Eugene Laska , Eun-Chung Lim et al. (2011). Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in a Total Population Sample . American Journal of Psychiatry, 168(9), 904-912. American Psychiatric Association Publishing.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  9. Antonio Napolitano , Sara Schiavi , Piergiorgio La Rosa , Maria Camilla Rossi-Espagnet , Sara Petrillo , Francesca Bottino et al. (2022). Sex Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Diagnostic, Neurobiological, and Behavioral Features . Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 889636. Frontiers Media SA.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  10. Virginia Braun , Victoria Clarke (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology . Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. Informa UK Limited.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  11. Sander Begeer , DAVID S. MANDELL , Bernadette Wijnker-Holmes , Stance Venderbosch , Dorien Rem , Fred Stekelenburg et al. (2013). Sex Differences in the Timing of Identification Among Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(5), 1151-1156. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  12. Laura Hull , K.V. Petrides , Will Mandy (2020). The female autism phenotype and camouflaging: a narrative review . Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 7(4), 306. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  13. Danica Pirsl , Solzica Popovska (2013). Media Mediated Disability: How to Avoid Stereotypes . International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research, 1(4), 42-45. International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.70729/j201364 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4405141541
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  14. Jennifer L. Tanner , Helen Z. Reinherz , William R. Beardslee , Garrett M. Fitzmaurice , Julie A. Leis , Sasha R. Berger (2007). Change in Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders From Ages 21 to 30 in a Community Sample . Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease, 195(4), 298-306. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health).
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  15. Yamini J. Howe , Julia A. O’Rourke , Yvette Yatchmink , Emma W. Viscidi , Richard N. Jones , Eric M. Morrow (2015). Female Autism Phenotypes Investigated at Different Levels of Language and Developmental Abilities . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(11), 3537-3549. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  16. Patricia J. M. Van Wijngaarden-Cremers , Evelien van Eeten , Wouter B. Groen , Patricia A. Van Deurzen , Iris J. Oosterling , Rutger Jan Van der Gaag (2014). Gender and Age Differences in the Core Triad of Impairments in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(3), 627-635. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  17. Will Mandy , Rebecca Chilvers , Uttom Chowdhury , Gemma Salter , Anna Seigal , David Skuse (2012). Sex Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence from a Large Sample of Children and Adolescents . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(7), 1304-1313. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  18. (2012). 2.64% of South Korean children aged 7 to 12 have autism spectrum disorders . Evidence Based Mental Health, 15(1), 11-11. BMJ.
    OpenCitations
  19. John N. Constantino , Tony Charman (2012). Gender Bias, Female Resilience, and the Sex Ratio in Autism . Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 51(8), 756-758. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  20. Meng-Chuan Lai , Jason P. Lerch , Dorothea L. Floris , Amber Ruigrok , Alexa Pohl , Michael Lombardo et al. (2017). Imaging sex/gender and autism in the brain: Etiological implications . Journal of Neuroscience Research, 95(1-2), 380-397. Wiley.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  21. Katharina Dworzynski , Angelica Ronald , Patrick Bolton , Francesca Happé (2012). How Different Are Girls and Boys Above and Below the Diagnostic Threshold for Autism Spectrum Disorders? Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 51(8), 788-797. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  22. Tony Charman , Eva Loth , Julian Tillmann , Daisy Crawley , Caroline Wooldridge , David Goyard et al. (2017). The EU-AIMS Longitudinal European Autism Project (LEAP): clinical characterisation . Molecular Autism, 8(1), 27. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  23. Ellen Giarelli , Lisa D. Wiggins , Catherine E. Rice , Susan E. Levy , Russell S. Kirby , Jennifer Pinto-Martin et al. (2010). Sex differences in the evaluation and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders among children . Disability and Health Journal, 3(2), 107-116. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  24. Thomas W Frazier , Stelios Georgiades , Somer Bishop , Antonio Y. Hardan (2014). Behavioral and Cognitive Characteristics of Females and Males With Autism in the Simons Simplex Collection . Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 53(3), 329-340.e3. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  25. Rosemarie Garland‐Thomson (2005). Feminist Disability Studies . Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 30(2), 1557-1587. University of Chicago Press.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1086/423352 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2039165908
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  26. Sigan L. Hartley , Darryn M. Sikora (2009). Sex Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Examination of Developmental Functioning, Autistic Symptoms, and Coexisting Behavior Problems in Toddlers . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39(12), 1715-1722. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  27. Luther G. Kalb , Vini Singh , Ji Su Hong , Calliope Holingue , Natasha N. Ludwig , Danika Pfeiffer et al. (2022). Analysis of Race and Sex Bias in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) . JAMA Network Open, 5(4), e229498. American Medical Association (AMA).
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  28. Melissa Kirkovski , Peter G. Enticott , Paul B. Fitzgerald (2013). A Review of the Role of Female Gender in Autism Spectrum Disorders . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(11), 2584-2603. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  29. Nathan V. Mallipeddi , Rachel A. VanDaalen (2022). Intersectionality Within Critical Autism Studies: A Narrative Review . Autism in Adulthood, 4(4), 281-289. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  30. Gould J (2011). Missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis? Girls and women on the autism spectrum . Good Autism Practice (GAP), 12(1), 34.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  31. Anders Boyd , Sarah Van de Velde , Gemma Vilagut , Ron de Graaf , Siobhan O׳Neill , Silvia Florescu et al. (2015). Gender differences in mental disorders and suicidality in Europe: Results from a large cross-sectional population-based study . Journal of Affective Disorders, 173, 245-254. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  32. Meng-Chuan Lai , Michael Lombardo , Bonnie Auyeung , Bhismadev Chakrabarti , Simon Baron-Cohen (2015). Sex/Gender Differences and Autism: Setting the Scene for Future Research . Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 54(1), 11-24. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  33. Laura Hull , K.V. Petrides , Carrie Allison , Paula Smith , Simon Baron-Cohen , Meng-Chuan Lai et al. (2017). Putting on my best normal”: social camouflaging in adults with autism spectrum conditions . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(8), 2519. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  34. Felicity Sedgewick , Helen Ellis , Laura Hull (2021). Autism and Masking: How and Why People do it, and the Impact it Can Have .
    Type: Book OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3196490323
    Crossref OpenAlex
  35. Kate Seers , Rachel C Hogg (2021). ‘You don’t look autistic’: A qualitative exploration of women’s experiences of being the ‘autistic other’ . Autism, 25(6), 1553-1564. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  36. Judith Halberstam (2011). Unbecoming: Queer Negativity/Radical Passivity . In Sex, Gender and Time in Fiction and Culture (pp. 173-194). Palgrave Macmillan UK.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  37. Meng-Chuan Lai , Michael Lombardo , Greg Pasco , Amber Ruigrok , Sally J. Wheelwright , Susan A. Sadek et al. (2011). A Behavioral Comparison of Male and Female Adults with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Conditions . PLoS ONE, 6(6), e20835. Public Library of Science (PLoS).
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  38. Butler J (1990). Gender trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity . Gender trouble, 3(1), 3.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  39. Maj‐Britt Posserud , M. Hysing , W. Helland , C. Gillberg , A.J. Lundervold (2018). Autism traits: The importance of “co-morbid” problems for impairment and contact with services. Data from the Bergen Child Study . Research in Developmental Disabilities, 72, 275-283. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  40. Vasiliki Kentrou , Milou Oostervink , Anke Scheeren , Sander Begeer (2021). Stability of co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses in autistic men and women . Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 82(82), 101736. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  41. Karl Lundin , Soheil Mahdi , Johan Isaksson , Sven Bölte (2021). Functional gender differences in autism: An international, multidisciplinary expert survey using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health model . Autism, 25(4), 1020-1035. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  42. Will Mandy , Meng-Chuan Lai (2017). Towards sex- and gender-informed autism research . Autism, 21(6), 643-645. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  43. (n.d.). e_1_3_5_30_2
    Type: Other DOI: 10.1177/136236131985344
    Crossref
  44. Tony Charman , Eva Loth , Julian Tillmann , Daisy Crawley , Caroline Wooldridge , David Goyard et al. (2017). The EU-AIMS Longitudinal European Autism Project (LEAP): clinical characterisation . Molecular Autism, 8(1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    OpenCitations
  45. Ami Tint , Jonathan A. Weiss (2018). A qualitative study of the service experiences of women with autism spectrum disorder . Autism, 22(8), 928. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  46. Eric Rubenstein , Sarah Furnier (2021). #Bias: The Opportunities and Challenges of Surveys That Recruit and Collect Data of Autistic Adults Online . Autism in Adulthood, 3(2), 120-128. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  47. Aaron J. Kaat , Amy M. Shui , Sheila S. Ghods , Cristan A. Farmer , Amy N. Esler , Audrey Thurm et al. (2021). Sex differences in scores on standardized measures of autism symptoms: a multisite integrative data analysis . Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 62(1), 97-106. Wiley.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  48. Sara Ahmed (2006). Queer Phenomenology . Duke University Press.
    OpenCitations
  49. Talia Burton , Belinda Ratcliffe , James Collison , David Dossetor , Michelle Wong (2020). Self-reported emotion regulation in children with autism spectrum disorder, without intellectual disability . Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 76, 101599. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  50. Ian Dey (1999). Grounding Grounded Theory . In Grounding Grounded Theory (pp. 249-269). Elsevier.
    Type: Book chapter DOI: 10.1016/b978-012214640-4/50011-5
    Crossref OpenCitations
  51. Robert McRuer (2008). Crip Theory. Cultural Signs of Queerness and Disability . Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 10(1), 67-69. Stockholm University Press.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  52. Merri Johnson , Robert McRuer (2014). Cripistemologies . Journal of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies, 8(2), 127-148. Liverpool University Press.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  53. Sara Ahmed (2006). Queer Phenomenology . Duke University Press.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  54. Yani Hamdani , Caroline Kassee , Meaghan Walker , Yona Lunsky , Brenda Gladstone , Amanda Sawyer et al. (2023). Roadblocks and detours on pathways to a clinical diagnosis of autism for girls and women: A qualitative secondary analysis . Women's Health, 19, 17455057231163761-17455057231163761. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  55. Kanner L (1968). Autistic disturbances of affective contact . Acta Paedopsychiatr, 35(4), 100.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  56. Janet Saltzman Chafetz , Helena Znaniecka Lopata (1995). Circles and Settings: Role Changes of American Women. Contemporary Sociology, 24(1), 111. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.2307/2075144 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4299870655
    OpenAlex
  57. Ryan S (2023). The Routledge International Handbook of Critical Autism Studies . The Routledge International Handbook of Critical Autism Studies, 1.
    Type: Other
    Crossref
  58. Lopata HZ (1994). Circles and Settings: Role Changes of American Women . Circles and Settings: Role Changes of American Women.
    Type: Other
    Crossref