Autigender

Key Features

• Autigender is specific to autistic individuals and acknowledges that autism can shape or impact how gender is experienced or expressed.

• The term reflects the intersection of neurodivergence and gender, indicating that a person’s gender identity may feel different or unique compared to the typical experience due to their autism.

• Autigender may manifest in various ways, depending on the individual, but it often involves a nontraditional or nonbinary approach to gender, which may not fit easily into established gender norms.

Context

Autigender is a term within the broader spectrum of gender identities, offering a way for autistic individuals to describe their experiences of gender in a way that acknowledges their neurological identity. It is part of an ongoing conversation about the intersectionality of gender and neurodiversity, recognizing that gender identity is not a one-size-fits-all experience and can be uniquely shaped by individual factors.

Gender Experience Shaped by Autism

Autigender individuals experience their gender through a lens that is influenced by autism. This could mean that their understanding of gender is different from the traditional binary or societal norms, and is informed by how they perceive and interact with the world as autistic individuals. For some, autism might heighten or diminish certain gendered experiences, or make gender feel more fluid or complex.

Example: An autigender person may feel disconnected from traditional gender roles because their understanding of gender is influenced by their sensory sensitivities, social experiences, or unique perception of themselves in the world.

Fluid or Nontraditional Gender Expression

Autigender individuals may not identify strictly with traditional gender categories like "man" or "woman." Their gender identity may be fluid, and they might express it in a way that does not fit within societal gender norms. For some, being autigender can involve a rejection of binary gender constructs or a preference for gender expression that is flexible and not confined to expectations placed on neurotypical individuals.

Example: An autigender person might feel a gender identity that shifts depending on their mood, environment, or how they are interacting with others, reflecting the complexity of both their neurodivergence and their gender.

Connection Between Gender and Sensory Perception

Some autigender individuals report that their sense of gender is tied to sensory experiences or the way they perceive stimuli. The unique ways in which autistic people process sensory information might influence their gender expression and identity. This could manifest in how they experience certain gendered behaviors or how they relate to gendered clothing, gestures, or societal expectations based on their sensory processing.

Example: An autigender person might find certain colors, textures, or sounds that are traditionally associated with their gender either comforting or overwhelming, which could affect their sense of identity or how they express themselves.

Gender and Social Interaction

Social interaction plays a major role in how many autistic people experience gender. Autigender individuals may feel that their neurodivergence gives them a distinct perspective on how gender is expressed or perceived in society. Some autigender individuals may feel that they do not fit into the typical ways that gender is understood or expressed in social spaces because their social experiences are affected by their autism.

Example: An autigender person may feel disconnected from gendered expectations in social spaces, feeling that society's traditional gender norms are difficult to navigate due to their unique social processing.

Cultural Relevance

The recognition of autigender helps to foster greater understanding of how neurodivergence affects gender identity and expression. It highlights the importance of inclusive language and labels that respect and represent the diverse experiences of individuals, particularly those who may not feel that conventional gender categories apply to them. Autigender also contributes to the broader conversation about how society can be more inclusive of neurodiverse individuals in discussions about identity and experience.

Expanding the Understanding of Gender

Autigender is an example of how gender is not a one-size-fits-all experience and that neurodivergence plays a role in shaping one's gender identity. It challenges the idea that gender identity is the same for everyone and acknowledges that different brain wiring can lead to distinct gender experiences. Just like other gender identities that fall outside the binary, autigender individuals push back against the idea that gender must conform to conventional norms, instead presenting a more expansive and inclusive view of gender.

Example: Autigender people challenge the assumption that gender is a straightforward, linear concept. Instead, their identity is more fluid and linked to how they uniquely experience the world.

Intersectionality of Neurodivergence and Gender

Autigender highlights the intersection of neurodivergence (in this case, autism) and gender identity. People who are autistic have distinct ways of perceiving the world, which influences their experience of gender. Recognizing autigender as a valid identity underscores the importance of considering neurodiversity in the discussion of gender. This intersectionality emphasizes that gender is not only influenced by societal norms but can also be shaped by how an individual’s brain processes information and experiences.

Example: Autigender individuals may feel both validated and understood by a community that recognizes both their neurodivergent experiences and their gender identity.

Challenges Faced by Autigender Individuals

• Invisibility and Lack of Representation: Autigender is still a relatively niche identity, meaning many autistic individuals who identify with this term may find it hard to see their experiences reflected in mainstream media or in broader LGBTQIA+ conversations. Like other gender identities outside the binary, autigender individuals often struggle with visibility and representation, which can lead to feelings of isolation.

  • Example: An autigender person might struggle to find other people with similar experiences, especially if they are also seeking a community that understands both neurodivergence and nonbinary gender identities.

• Difficulty Navigating Gender Norms: Autistic individuals often have difficulty with social cues and expectations, and this can extend to gendered behaviors and expressions. Autigender individuals may find that societal gender norms are particularly difficult to navigate because their experiences of gender are informed by their neurodivergence. This can result in challenges with feeling "accepted" or "understood" in spaces that heavily enforce traditional gender roles, whether in professional, personal, or social contexts.

  • Example: An autigender person might find it challenging to conform to traditional gender roles in social interactions, feeling misunderstood or disconnected from societal expectations around gendered behavior.

• Struggling with Internalized Ableism: Because autism is often misunderstood or stigmatized, autigender individuals may also face internalized ableism. They may question their gender identity or feel pressure to conform to more "typical" gender expectations due to societal discomfort with both neurodivergence and non-binary gender identities.: This can lead to confusion or difficulty embracing their authentic self and may hinder self-acceptance.

  • Example: An autigender person might feel torn between their unique gender identity and the expectation to conform to traditional gender categories because of pressure from the neurotypical society.