"The difference that being female makes to the diagnosis, life and experiences of an autistic person is hugely significant. In this widely expanded second edition, Sarah Hendrickx combines the latest research with personal stories from girls and women on the autism spectrum to present a picture of their feelings, thoughts and experiences at each stage of their lives. Outlining the likely impact will be for autistic women and girls throughout their lifespan, Hendrickx surveys everything from diagnosis, childhood, education, adolescence, friendships and sexuality, to employment, pregnancy, parenting and ageing. With up-to-date content on masking, diagnosis later in life, and a new focus on trans and non-binary voices, as well as a deeper dive into specific health and wellbeing implications including menopause, PCOS, Hypermobility/Ehlers-Danlos, autistic burnout, and alexithymia, this is an invaluable companion for professionals, as well as a guiding light for autistic women to understand and interpret their own experience."-- Back cover.

Foreword / Dr. Judith Gould -- Acknowledgements -- Preface -- Introduction -- Part I. Theory and diagnosis -- 1. Gender in autism -- 2. Discovery and diagnosis -- Part II. Profile across the lifespan -- 3. Infancy and childhood -- 4. Adulthood -- 5. Later years -- Part III. Facets of life -- 6. Social relationships -- 7. Gender identity and sexuality -- 8. Personal relationships -- 9. Pregnancy and parenting -- 10. Education -- 11. Employment -- 12. Eating / Jess Hendrickx -- 13. Health and well-being -- 14. Living well in a non-autistic world -- References -- Subject index -- Author index.