Women are disproportionately underdiagnosed for autism, which could be one of the reasons RFK types have latched onto male-specific causes.
Shyness tends to be problematized less in girls than in boys, and parents may perceive shyness as “sweetness.”
Many autistic people have special interests that they focus on. In boys and men, these often include cars, numbers, or collections. Girls may have more socially typical special interests, like celebrities or animals.
(of Masking) Gender norms exert a huge influence on women’s behavior, and women who deviate from gender norms can face harsh backlash.