Us autistic individuals face unique challenges in a world not made for us. One of these challenges is the need to navigate social situations that can be confusing, overwhelming, and exhausting. To cope with these challenges, many of us in the Autistic Community engage in a behaviour known as "masking" or "social camouflaging" (Hull et al., 2017).
Masking refers to the act of suppressing or hiding one's autistic qualities in order to appear more "normal" or socially acceptable, that is, to fit in better with neurotypical social norms. This can include things like suppressing stimming behaviours, avoiding eye contact, and mimicking the social behaviours of others. The goal of masking is often to avoid social rejection, criticism, and ostracism (Livingston et al., 2019). While masking can be a useful coping mechanism in certain situations, it can also have serious negative consequences for autistic individuals. This article will explore the phenomenon of masking use by autistic people, its potential impact on mental health and well-being, and strategies for promoting authenticity and acceptance for autistics.
What is Masking?
At its core, autistic masking is when an autistic person pretends to be neurotypical in order to fit in and survive in a predominantly neurotypical environment. Masking is a behaviour that many autistic people engage in to varying degrees. It can take many forms, including hiding one's stims (self-stimulatory behaviours such as hand-flapping or rocking), suppressing one's special interests, and imitating neurotypical social behaviours such as eye contact and small talk. Masking can be a conscious or unconscious process, and many autistic people may not even be aware that they are doing it.
The reasons why us autistic people mask are complex and varied. For some, it may be a survival strategy developed in response to a world that is often hostile and unwelcoming to neurodivergent people. Masking can allow autistic individuals to navigate social situations more easily, avoid negative attention, and even pass as neurotypical. For others, masking may be a way of avoiding stigma and discrimination, as autistic people are often subject to stereotypes and misconceptions about their abilities and limitations.
The Cost of Masking
While masking can be a useful coping mechanism in certain situations, it can also have serious negative consequences for us autistic individuals. One potential cost of masking is the loss of authenticity and self-expression. When us individuals in the Autistic Community are constantly suppressing or hiding our natural tendencies, it can be difficult for us to fully express ourselves and engage in activities that we find fulfilling or meaningful. This can lead to feelings of loneliness, isolation, and disconnection.
Masking can also be incredibly draining and exhausting, particularly if it is done over a long period of time. Many of us autistic people will report feeling mentally and physically exhausted after social interactions or public events, as we are constantly monitoring and adjusting our behaviour in order to fit in. This can lead to burnout, which is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that can last for days, weeks, or even months.
In addition to these psychological costs, masking can also have negative impacts on physical health. For example, many of us autistic individuals engage in stims as a way of regulating our sensory input and reducing anxiety. When these stims are suppressed or denied, it can lead to increased stress levels, which can in turn have negative impacts on the immune system, cardiovascular system, and other aspects of physical health.
While masking can help us autistic individuals navigate social situations in the short-term, it can also have serious negative consequences in the long-term. Research has shown that masking is associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety, as well as other mental health problems (Chen & Chang, 2020; Hull et al., 2017). In fact, some researchers have suggested that the stress of masking may be a contributing factor to the high rates of mental health problems observed in the autistic population (Lai et al., 2019).
Despite these negative consequences, masking remains a common coping strategy for many of us in the Autistic Community. This may be because masking is often viewed as necessary in a world that is not accommodating to autistic differences. Many of us autistic individuals feel pressure to mask in order to be accepted, respected, and valued by our peers and society at large. This also can be an essential strategy that we use to ensure our psychological, emotional, and sometimes even physical safety.
Promoting Authenticity and Acceptance
Given the potential negative consequences of masking, it is important to promote authenticity and acceptance for autistic people. One way to do this is by creating spaces and communities where we can be ourselves without fear of judgment or discrimination. This might include online forums, support groups, or social clubs that are specifically designed for autistic individuals.
Another way to promote authenticity is by educating neurotypical individuals about autism and the importance of accepting neurodivergent behaviours. This can help to reduce stigma and create more welcoming environments for us autistic individuals. For example, rather than viewing stims as "weird" or "inappropriate", neurotypical individuals can learn to see them as a natural and necessary part of autistic expression. By creating a culture that recognises and values our autistic differences, we in the Autistic Community may feel more comfortable being our authentic selves in social situations.
Another alternative is to provide support and accommodations to us autistic individuals that can make social situations less stressful and overwhelming. This can include things like sensory-friendly environments, social skills training, and peer support networks.
Masking is a common coping strategy used by many of us in the Autistic Community to navigate social situations in a world not made for them. While masking can be effective in the short-term, it can also have serious negative consequences in the long-term. By promoting acceptance and understanding of autism and providing support and accommodations, society can create a more inclusive and accepting environment for us autistic individuals (Chen & Chang, 2020; Hull et al., 2017; Lai et al., 2019; Livingston et al., 2019). It is important to recognise that masking is not a choice, but rather a survival strategy that we as autistic individuals develop in response to a hostile world.
Interested in a more detailed exploration of this topic? Check out our deep dive here.
References
Chen, M. H., & Chang, C. Y. (2020). The impact of social camouflaging on the mental health of autistic adults: A systematic review. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(9), 3207-3220.
Hull, L., Petrides, K. V., Allison, C., Smith, P., Baron-Cohen, S., Lai, M. C., & Mandy, W. (2017). “Putting on my best normal”: Social camouflaging in adults with autism spectrum conditions. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(8), 2519-2534.
Lai, M. C., Kassee, C., Besney, R., Bonato, S., Hull, L., Mandy, W., Szatmari, P., Ameis, S. H., & Kennedy, J. L. (2019). Prevalence of co-occurring mental health diagnoses in the autism population: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(10), 819-829.
Livingston, L. A., Shah, P., & Happé, F. (2019). Compensatory strategies below the behavioural surface in autism: A qualitative study. The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(9), 766-777.
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