A growing body of autism research has been focused on the phenomenon of masking, the extent to which neurodiverse individuals hide their traits to fit in with the rest of the population. Previous research shows masking is more prevalent in autistic women, as they feel more pressure to appear neurotypical than men. Although there is an array of literature, there is a lack of exploration of their stories and how masking affects autistic women. Using the Listening Guide methodology, this study aimed to answer the following question: “What are the voices present in autistic women’s experiences of masking?”. The purpose of the study was to highlight and empower autistic women and better inform mental health practitioners about the challenges they face. Interviews from eight autistic women were analyzed. Several voices emerged, categorized into three broad categories: voices of “masking,” voices of “unmasking,” and voices of advocacy.
