"I'm not damaged, just different" : autistic women diagnosed in adulthood and their experiences in formal educational contexts

Abstract

Autistic females are often misidentified or identified later in life, and there is currently no consensus on the causality of this issue. Although increasing accounts of autistic females are helping to improve the recognition of autism in this population, several areas still require further research. Given the limited literature on the educational journeys of autistic females, this study aims to increase the understanding of how autism is expressed in females by exploring their lived experiences within formal educational contexts. This narrative enquiry study conducts semi-structured interviews with Peruvian and Maltese autistic women diagnosed in adulthood. The interviews primarily explore their experiences within formal education, but also address their reflections on their identification process and hopes for their future. Narrative thematic analysis identifies five common themes within the participants’ narratives: The high price of achievement; Surviving sensory chaos; The solitude along the journey; Interiorising and concealing pain; and, Beyond teachers’ sight. The experiences of autistic women who participated in this study were primarily characterised by misunderstanding, loneliness and distress. These experiences were shaped by contextual and individual factors that were often overlooked and unsupported, significantly affecting their overall well-being.