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I feel like being reckless today. So, I’m just going to be very honest...
Being autistic impacted my sense of gender. Though I effectively share the experiences of ppl who identify as nonbinary, for me, my atypical sense of gender is not a transgender issue. It’s an autistic one
Being autistic impacted my sense of gender. Though I effectively share the experiences of ppl who identify as nonbinary, for me, my atypical sense of gender is not a transgender issue. It’s an autistic one
The current or popular discourse around gender in our community effectively looks at autistic experiences in gender from a NT perspective.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
However, the specific relationship that being autistic has on one’s sense of gender are conversations that should be had regardless if ppl desire to use such realities to discredit transgender issues.
Why? Because experiences like mine shouldn’t be ignored to validate another’s
Why? Because experiences like mine shouldn’t be ignored to validate another’s
Our current culture seems to value validity over everything. One person’s experience or perspective seems to invalidate another’s.
But, what if we got to the point where we realized and accepted that life is complicated and messy?
Our experiences aren’t all the same.
But, what if we got to the point where we realized and accepted that life is complicated and messy?
Our experiences aren’t all the same.
What if we could acknowledge that for some autistic ppl, processing their experiences in regards to gender as primarily a transgender issue, is unhelpful and unproductive at the very least, while for some autistic people processing them primarily as an autistic issue is not best?
My concern is that in an effort to discredit people like JK Rowling, the autistic community will end up ignoring or silencing experiences like mine.
Let me be honest...
Because for me personally, not being able to relate to other girls/women impacted my ability to fully identify with being a girl/woman, transitioning or taking on another gender identity would of caused more harm for me.
Because for me personally, not being able to relate to other girls/women impacted my ability to fully identify with being a girl/woman, transitioning or taking on another gender identity would of caused more harm for me.
Why? Because the root issue was not being able to relate to other girls/women. It had nothing to do with being assigned the wrong gender at birth or what my true gender was.
It wasn’t really a gender issue. It was and is an issue of relating that manifests in my sense of gender
It wasn’t really a gender issue. It was and is an issue of relating that manifests in my sense of gender
For me, it was coming to terms with not being able to relate that provided a resolution and peace for me.
For me, trying to chase down a gender group or identity that I could relate to would of been a fruitless endeavor because it not something that’s ever going to happen.
For me, trying to chase down a gender group or identity that I could relate to would of been a fruitless endeavor because it not something that’s ever going to happen.
I shudder at the idea that I could of gone through an invasive, life altering and unnecessary process of transitioning because society told me my experience was a transgender one.
I don’t think these are conversations our community is ready to have.
I don’t think these are conversations our community is ready to have.
It’s much easier to rashly call experiences like these bigoted because they seem to threaten transgender issues.
Not everyone’s dilemma with their gender is the same and they don’t all need to be treated or viewed the same.
Not everyone’s dilemma with their gender is the same and they don’t all need to be treated or viewed the same.
And if you’ve read some ofmy tweets on this before...this is why I don’t like being called cis even though I identify as a woman and am AFAB.
Some people don’t like being called cis because they are petty.
Some don’t like it because they really don’t fit in your limited boxes
Some people don’t like being called cis because they are petty.
Some don’t like it because they really don’t fit in your limited boxes
In every other area we don’t want our autistic experiences erased, but with gender it seems we are content with hiding experiences that can’t be processed through transgender issues and thus NT norms.
We are much more likely to be transgender than the general population. To me, it seems abundantly obvious that being autistic plays a role in that. https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/transgender-and-gender-diverse-adults-more-likely-to-be-diagnosed-as-autistic-338423?fbclid=IwAR1QUnnlPilhX_Jn0YDJ1cw7d23XLUnfDQ3dWR9kLXptEP30rzn7MpPyyAE
We have autigender, but beyond a gender identity, I wish there was an umbrella term specifically for gender experiences like mine.
I am a woman and I don’t want to diminish that. I want to be able to express my sense of gender without being categorized as transgender.
I am a woman and I don’t want to diminish that. I want to be able to express my sense of gender without being categorized as transgender.
Because since I am AFAB, if I disclose that I effectively have a nonbinary sense of gender (and thus transgender), it gets translated into me not fully being a woman.
I am no less a woman just because I can’t relate to much of them.
I am no less a woman just because I can’t relate to much of them.
I want to add to this so that we are clear...
Autistic people are not more likely to be brainwashed. Autistic people are not being manipulated in this regard. That’s not a thing. I think anyone saying that is using us to bolster their argument. They don’t really care about us.
Autistic people are not more likely to be brainwashed. Autistic people are not being manipulated in this regard. That’s not a thing. I think anyone saying that is using us to bolster their argument. They don’t really care about us.
When I was a kid I sooo wanted to be a boy. I thought I should of been a boy because I found it easier to relate to boys and liked “boy” stuff.
I remember being absolutely thrilled once when I was eight when I intentionally dressed like a boy and got mistaken as one.
I remember being absolutely thrilled once when I was eight when I intentionally dressed like a boy and got mistaken as one.
While other little girls drew pictures of little girls to reflect themselves, I drew pictures of boys.
My sense of gender from the time I was a child to adulthood changed, but my sense of identity never did.
My sense of gender from the time I was a child to adulthood changed, but my sense of identity never did.
Somebody else replied and said it better than I did....this was a social issues for me, as gender is a social construct, not an issue with my identity.
My whole point here was to be open about my experiences and to say that there needs to be space for experiences like mine too.
My experiences don’t invalidate transgender issues or experiences, because while I think they are very similar outwardly, they aren’t the same dilemma.
My experiences don’t invalidate transgender issues or experiences, because while I think they are very similar outwardly, they aren’t the same dilemma.
I am tweeting about this because I want people to know that they don’t necessarily have to fit in ANYBODY’s box.
There is not a set right way to process your gender or gender identity.
Be who you are how you truly are.
There is not a set right way to process your gender or gender identity.
Be who you are how you truly are.
