Crystal J. Zanders, PhD
Dissertation
Unseen: Black Autistic Women's Masking Practices, Pressures, & Possibilities
In the academic world keywords are very important. However, academic keywords tend to be less understandable to folks outside of that particular academic field. To keep my keywords and keep things readable, I have included an academic and nonacademic summary. Choose your own adventure.
Academic Summary
Black autistic women often go unevaluated, undiagnosed, unsupported, and ignored by the medical-industrial complex, autism researchers, and society at large. Without the support and acknowledgment of their disability, many Black autistic women often have to mask or hide their autistic traits. Rooted in Black feminist theory, critical disability studies methodology, and critical race counterstory, this dissertation complicates the traditional narratives about autism and Black women by investigating the embodied phenomenon of masking for Black autistic women.
The participants in this study explained their primary masking motives included their physical safety, professional prospects, and social connections. Intersectional societal expectations put the Black autistic women in this study in an untenable position, creating conflict between the roles that they are expected to embody and their autistic traits. Examining the educational experiences of the participants in this study led to the creation of the perception framework, which explores how other people recognize autistic folks. Ultimately, this study shows that Black autistic women struggle whether they are masking or not. The conclusions suggests that Black autistic women learn to support each other and themselves because the world is not particularly welcoming to Black autistic women.
Non-Academic Summary
Black Autistic women have been ignored by doctors, researchers, the media, and the rest of the world. Because people don't know that Black women can be autistic, Black autistic women don't usually get the same support other autistic folks may get. Without that support, Black autistic women often feel like they have to hide the fact that they are autistic.
​​
The folks that I interviewed said that the reason they masked was because it kept them physically safe, made it easier for them to get and keep jobs and exist in the workplace, and helped with social relationships. Also society's expectations for Black women made life more difficult for Black autistic women. School was a struggle for many participants. I wrote about that struggle using the Perception Framework which I created.
​​
At the end of the day, this study shows that life is very difficult for Black autistic women whether they hide their autism or not. The conclusion suggests that Black autistic women form their own communities and learn to care for themselves and each other to survive a less welcoming world.