Autism and Gender Identity: What does the research say?

Are there links between autism and differences in gender identity or expression? What does the research say?

NOTE: Since the filming of this video, controversy related to this issue has been raised about autism and other diagnoses as reasons to deny gender affirming care. Stay tuned for a future video on autism, autonomy, and consent.

Further Reading:

[ReallyNS]

I love your videos, and really appreciate that you're always willing to talk on touchy subjects like these. As an AuDHD trans woman this felt both thorough and respectful. Looking forward to the followup on autism, autonomy and consent; since tbh, my psychiatrist within the NHS that diagnosed me with autism seemed to be subtly trying to hint me towards making additional conclusions about my gender despite me already being medically, legally and socially transitioned at the time of diagnosis, which I navigated politely, but still found bizarre and a bit scary.

[TeardropFamilyReunion-eo]

I'm an autistic person who came out recently to a lot of people as demigirl (I use she/her and they/them pronouns), and I watched this video to try and understand better why I am who I am. Thanks for making this!

[junkettarp]

I'm on the Autistic spectrum and on the Transgender spectrum and on the Gender fluid spectrum. There is a relationship for sure.

[pko.youtube]

wow. just found your videos and it has been huge for me in questioning whether i am ASD or not. either way, i have learned so much and i love your reliance on empirical science, the autistic perspective, and your sense of humor :) thanks y’all ! keep doing what u do :)

[fed-yum]

Intersex conditions are mutually exclusive from gender incongruence. I've found that those with intersex conditions feel that this lack of understanding, dilutes their much less known about challenges. And some of the unnecessary medical procedures they were put through as children. Put some other ways: intersex does not mean you are trans*; trans does not mean you are intersex; most people that are trans are not intersex, but some trans are intersex as well; some intersex people are trans, some intersex people aren't. Replace trans* with your favourite gender incongruent terminology. You get the idea. Anyway, keep learning, great topic.

[TTT]

My chromosomes are xx. But when you look deeper into my genes, my esr1 receptor genes, that should be there given that im xx are...absent. so while the outside of my body looked female i do not have the primary estrogen receptors. That classifies me as endocrine intersex. I didnt learn that until I was in my 30s. Long before knowing that i started identifying as i currently do. Ive continued my transition and have found it overall helpful. Im also autistic, which i suspected but wasnt diagnosed with until in my 30s.

[Catsaretoogoodtobetrue]

As someone who is autistic and gender-fluid Tysm

[klutterkicker]

YT randomly suggested this to me and this is such a cute channel! You should be getting more views.

[natecorsn]

This was helpful because it’s become a trend to use autism in reference to gender identity to treat trans people as misguided autistic people that were simply “led astray” by “gender ideology”. It feels dehumanizing and the language makes it seem like we have no agency.

[okzoomer]

I'm autistic but may have chimerism as well [aka, vanishing twin brother in the womb, absorbed cells or was exposed to high levels of testosterone at some point]. I have atypical gender dysphoria where I feel happy with my natal sex characteristics but also feel like I didn't develop properly in other ways. I seem to need higher levels of testosterone than most cis women do for my physiology to function properly, as I've learned recently through multiple health problems.

[bhan]

thank you for introducing me to "autigender" (haven't heard before) i like it, makes sense to me

[UnconditionalGround]

You're wonderful. Thank you for doing my homework.

[rachelh]

I suspected this may be the case but I hadn’t looked at any research about it. Thanks for the info, I’m looking forward to seeing more extensive research on this topic.

[orhoushmand]

As an autistic man, I see it, I always felt that I am more feminine than other men.

[nuni]

I've found performing gender (3:50) burdening through all my life. Recently that I have come to be avare of my autism it goes as a part of masking overall.

[BeckiLynn_N]

Love the ending. It's a wonder so few people understand that. On the subject, though, I am an older transgender woman. I have been transitioning slowly over the last few years. It may be anecdotal, but two weeks after I started HRT, my mind cleared up and the world seems easier to handle. Therapy and drugs (prescribed) could only hold me level. Estrogen has helped me see life as it should be. Just food for thought.

[alex-utxp]

Almost every other neurodivergent person I’ve met was either gay, nonbinary, or trans. A handful were heterosexual and cisgender but not many tbh. I myself am gay, trans, and autistic along with having issues expressing feelings because words often can’t quantify my emotions. Thank you for supporting and sharing information about the relationship between neurodivergence and identity

[cff]

Such a great video! Thanks!
Heavily relate to the autigender term. Biologically I am male but I always found this gender distinctions so artificial. I mean, yes, there are biological differences but then again they are more statistical than defining. Like there are strong females and weak males, for example. And these gender stereotypes are just “let’s take, say, median, or 70% or whatever of some metric and ignore everything else”. Those who fit these categories don’t care about their artificial nature, because it doesn’t not interfere with day to day life. But those outside - do!
The number of intersex (ambiguous biological sex) people is estimated to be up to 1.7% of the population (depending on the methodology, but as I understand 1.7% is the upper bound, including all variants). To put into perspective, the number of redheads is 1-2% on average (some countries have more, some less).
So seeing intersex people as “invalid” as akin seeing redheads as witches.

[transformations]

You treated this topic well. I was concerned due to the polarizing nature of this topic. I am diagnosed ASD and with Gender Dysphoria. I wanted to mention that while I am more (or less) binary, I still feel more gender-experience-similarity between myself and other autistics of any gender than between myself and NTs of any gender. That is to say, autistic women are more similar to me than neurotypical men even though I am also a man. I think the idea of autigender has value (I additionally identify as autigender), but I haven't seen much conversation about it put forward in good faith.

[elderwelder]

Is everyone in the comments happy now that you've transitioned?