Communication

Unmasking

Acting More Autistic

Reverse Masking Acting more stereotypically Autistic so that neurotypical individuals around us can be visually cued into the interaction and take our actual Autistic traits less personally.

• Short Version: These visual prompts are an important and sustainable solution to avoiding the severe health risks associated with masking as well as the emotional labour of constantly being misinterpreted for misbehavior if I am held to unrealistic neurotypical standards.”
• Long Version: “Over-acting gestures that stereotypically male Autism is something I do to provide visual cues to others so that they can be more aware of my invisible interpersonal differences. In real life, I act ‘Autistic,’ but it does not look like what you see on TV, which is what I perform.

Overacting the stereotype is a strategy that is much less stressful for me personally, at a place of work where I depend on others for support and respect, when I can do it, rather than pretending to be neurotypical. This is because the approach allows me to speak the way I speak naturally, and I do not need to worry about reading faces while I am thinking.

These visual prompts are an important and sustainable solution to avoiding the severe health risks associated with masking as well as the emotional labour of constantly being misinterpreted for misbehavior if I am seen by neurotypical standards.”