Connections With Karen: Empowering Girls on the Spectrum

By Karen Kaplan, MS

Helping girls understand their strengths can improve mental health and self-esteem.

Women are often empowered when they understand their strengths and challenges and are provided with the support needed to lead safe, meaningful, and successful lives.

Females with autism

Women on the autism spectrum show differing social and behavioral profiles from men on the spectrum. It is believed that girls on the spectrum experience greater societal pressure to conform to social norms, which leads to higher anxiety and being misunderstood or overlooked.

It is said that girls learn to mask or camouflage who they are to fit in, which can lead to exhaustion and a loss of their authentic selves.

Research is showing that women on the spectrum have higher risks of mental health challenges (anxiety, depression, and burnout). Empowering women to understand and accept their differences and find support can improve their overall mental health and well-being.