Autism and Gender Identity
Research has found more gender diversity among autistic people, and more autism among transgender and gender-diverse people, than in comparison groups. This intersection is often missing from mainstream autism resources. WeBearish covers it directly.
What the Research Shows
In a 2014 chart review of children with neurodevelopmental conditions, parents reported gender variance in 5.4% of autistic children, compared with 0 to 0.7% in non-referred comparison groups, which made autistic children 7.59 times more likely to express gender variance. Looking from the other direction, a 2020 study of 641,860 people in Nature Communications found that transgender and gender-diverse people had, on average, higher rates of autism diagnosis than cisgender people.
Why the Overlap Exists
Why the overlap exists is not yet understood, and no single explanation has been established. Some autistic people describe gender norms as feeling arbitrary, and many describe paying close attention to their own internal experience.
Language and Identity
WeBearish uses identity-first language by default for both autism ('autistic person') and generally affirms the language individuals use to describe their gender identity. We treat gender identity, like autistic identity, with respect rather than as a symptom.
For Parents
If your autistic child is exploring or expressing gender identity, WeBearish encourages listening, support, and respect. Being autistic does not make a child's feelings about their gender less real. Find autistic LGBTQ+ community where possible.
Resources
ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network) publishes resources at the intersection of autism and LGBTQ+ identity. Gender Spectrum, PFLAG, and The Trevor Project offer support for gender-diverse youth and families.