Being a girl in a boys' world: investigating the experiences of girls with autism spectrum disorders during adolescence.
Autistic girls face unique puberty stress and masking—screen and support them before burnout sets in.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers talked with teenage girls who have autism.
They asked about school, friends, and growing up.
The girls shared stories about feeling different and left out.
What they found
Girls said puberty hit harder than it did for boys.
They felt huge pressure to act like other girls.
Many hid their autism to fit in, which left them exhausted.
How this fits with other research
Crawford et al. (2015) found no sex gap in toddlers.
Their study shows boys and girls match on core traits at age three.
This looks like a clash, but age is the key.
The gap grows during puberty, not preschool.
Jorgenson et al. (2020) later showed teen girls mask more than boys.
That backs up the hiding theme these girls shared.
Diemer et al. (2023) adds parents often wait years for a girl’s diagnosis.
Missed girls become the burned-out women in Pollock et al. (2026).
Why it matters
You can act now. Add girl-specific questions to intake forms. Teach puberty and friendship skills early. Watch for masking and exhaustion. A few small changes can stop a decade of struggle.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This study investigates the experiences of adolescent girls with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) during adolescence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three mother-daughter dyads and two additional mothers. A range of issues were highlighted covering physical, emotional, social and sexual domains. Some of these issues were similar to those experienced by boys with ASD during adolescence, such as negative implications of late diagnosis, challenges of transitioning to and coping with high school, 'hands-on' role of parents into adolescence, difficulties adjusting to the increased demands of adolescent hygiene routines, and the importance of learning personal boundaries in interactions with others. Other issues discussed were of particular relevance to adolescent girls with ASD, such as difficulties socialising with neurotypically developing girls, sex-specific puberty issues, and sexual vulnerabilities. This study highlights an important research area and is a preliminary step towards understanding the experiences of adolescent girls with ASD and their families.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2014 · doi:10.1007/s10803-013-1985-6