SOCIAL SKILLS
mer human resources director, I have gleaned addi-
tional insights that will be helpful as well.
ASPIE WOMEN ARE DIFFERENT
Asperger’s syndrome symptoms present much differ-
ently in females than males.
From Kevin Pelphrey’s recent study, Aspie girls’ brains
look like that of a typical boy of the same age, with
reduced activity in regions normally associated with
socializing. “They’re still reduced relative to typically
developing girls,” Pelphrey said, but the brain-activity
measures they show would not be considered “autis-
tic” in a boy. “Everything we’re looking at, brain-wise,
now seems to be following that pattern,” he adds. In
short, the brain of a girl with autism spectrum disor-
der (ASD) may be more like the brain of a typical boy
than that of a boy with autism.
In my study that phenomenologically explored the
Lived Experience of Mothers of Children with Asperger’s
Syndrome, I support these statements. The mothers I
interviewed indicated that the girls were less social,
did not bond the same way socially with other girls
and were especially combative with other females in
authority. Having lived this journey myself, I can tell
you that I have struggled socially at school and work.
I have experienced firsthand that there is a complex
social register among female tribes in the workplace.
I have spent many years observing these tribes and
collecting and analyzing data regarding my obser-
vations.
Here are some strategies that I have picked up over
the years working in various organizations in all kinds
of industries that will help parents prepare their Asp-
ie girls for the neurotypical workplace.
1.
Aspie women are social
Aspie women are striving to gain acceptance
and wish to be socially accepted on some level.
It is very frustrating to work in a socially con-
structed workplace and to be ostracized or
left out by others. For females especially, extra
time and consideration needs to be provided
in supporting other women.
In the workplace, human resources directors
and female managers also need to pay clos-
er attention to creating accommodations and
not contributing to the social isolation of oth-
er females. I am aware of workplace situations
in which the human resources director herself
was promoting unfair social conduct among
female social groups.
Include Aspie women for their unique contri-
butions rather than ostracize them. Establish
female mentors for other women.