Masking as Persona Flexibility1

Authors

Abstract

“Masking” is a term used to capture the impression that many autistics are “hiding their true self”. This chapter explores the idea that (fighting against) “hiding one&s;s true self” is central to autism, rather than just a consequence of being marginalized. It claims that the core of masking is mimicking neurotypical communication by showing different social personae. This does not require any difference in behavior between a neurotypical and a masking autistic person. Instead, the two groups have different felt answers to the question whether changing social roles a lot is dishonest. This chapter models this in terms of two socio-linguistic principles of Sincerity and claim that many autistics have higher Sincerity standards. Masking is one of three ways of dealing with clashes between appropriateness and these standards: Masking autistics do not conform to their own standards of Sincerity when trying to be socially appropriate. The alternatives are “unmasking”, which leads to “inappropriate” behavior, or avoiding social situations altogether. This accounts for feelings of social failure and self-disintegration and a development of mistrust between people with high and low Sincerity standards. Applying this model to group settings, an analogy between being autistic in a neurotypical world and being systematically dogwhistled at emerges.

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