Neurogender: Difference between revisions

"Neurodivergent" is a general category for people whose neurological development and state are atypical, and it includes people who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, dyslexia, epilepsy, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or many other neurological conditions or mental illnesses. The word neurodivergent comes from the neurodiversity movement, which was started by autistic rights activists in the late 1990s. The neurodiversity movement seeks civil rights for neurodivergent people, and encourages seeing neurodivergence as a natural part of human diversity.<ref name="disabled world">"What Is: Neurodiversity, Neurodivergent, Neurotypical." ''Disabled World.'' Updated April 7, 2020.  https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/awareness/neurodiversity/</ref>

Autism ("Autism Spectrum Disorder" in the DSM-V<ref>American Psychiatric Association. (2022). ''Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders'' (5th ed., text rev.). <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787</nowiki></ref>) is a spectrum of highly variable neurodevelopmental disorders. Psychologists have three main criteria for autism: impairments in social interaction, impairments in communication, and repetitive behavior.<ref name=DSM5>{{cite book | title = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition | chapter = Autism Spectrum Disorder, 299.00 (F84.0) | editor = American Psychiatric Association | year = 2013 | publisher = American Psychiatric Publishing | pagex = 50–59}}</ref><ref name="Filipek">{{cite journal | vauthors = Filipek PA, Accardo PJ, Baranek GT, Cook EH, Dawson G, Gordon B, Gravel JS, Johnson CP, Kallen RJ, Levy SE, Minshew NJ, Ozonoff S, Prizant BM, Rapin I, Rogers SJ, Stone WL, Teplin S, Tuchman RF, Volkmar FR | s2cid = 145113684 | title = The screening and diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders | journal = J Autism Dev Disord | volume = 29 | issue = 6 | pages = 439–484 | year = 1999 | pmid = 10638459 | doi = 10.1023/A:1021943802493 }} This paper represents a consensus of representatives from nine professional and four parent organizations in the US.</ref><ref name="Geschwind-2009">{{cite journal | last = Geschwind | first = Daniel H | title = Advances in autism | journal = Annu Rev Med | volume = 60 | pages = 367–380 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19630577 | pmc = 3645857 | doi = 10.1146/annurev.med.60.053107.121225}}</ref> Autistic people may be impaired in some respects, but average or better in others.<ref>{{cite book |vauthors=Pinel JP |title=Biopsychology |year=2011 |publisher=Pearson |location=Boston, Massachusetts |edition=8th |isbn=978-0-205-03099-6 |oclc=1085798897 |page=235 }}</ref> Autism lasts lifelong from birth; behavioral signs can be apparent as early as infancy,<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Rogers SJ | title = What are infant siblings teaching us about autism in infancy? | journal = Autism Res | volume = 2 | issue = 3 | pages = 125–137 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19582867 | pmc = 2791538 | doi = 10.1002/aur.81}}</ref> and many adults and seniors are autistic.<ref name=Ste106>{{cite journal | vauthors = Steinhausen HC, Mohr Jensen C, Lauritsen MB | title = A systematic review and meta-analysis of the long-term overall outcome of autism spectrum disorders in adolescence and adulthood | journal = Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica | volume = 133 | issue = 6 | pages = 445–452 | date = June 2016 | pmid = 26763353 | doi = 10.1111/acps.12559 }}</ref><ref name="Rapin">{{cite journal | vauthors = Rapin I, Tuchman RF | title = Autism: definition, neurobiology, screening, diagnosis | journal = Pediatric Clinics of North America | volume = 55 | issue = 5 | pages = 1129–1146, viii | date = October 2008 | pmid = 18929056 | doi = 10.1016/j.pcl.2008.07.005 }}</ref> The specific causes of autism are unknown, though there is thought to be a substantial genetic contribution).<ref name="Fractionable">{{cite journal|vauthors=Happé F, Ronald A |s2cid=13928876 |title=The 'fractionable autism triad': a review of evidence from behavioural, genetic, cognitive and neural research |journal=Neuropsychol Rev |volume=18 |issue=4 |pages=287–304 |year=2008 |pmid=18956240 |doi=10.1007/s11065-008-9076-8}}</ref><ref name="HappeTime">{{cite journal | vauthors = Happé F, Ronald A, Plomin R | title = Time to give up on a single explanation for autism | journal = Nature Neuroscience | volume = 9 | issue = 10 | pages = 1218–1220 | year = 2006 | pmid = 17001340 | doi = 10.1038/nn1770 | doi-access = free}}</ref> Therapeutic goals are not to "cure" autistic neurotypes but to teach functional skills, reduce harmful behaviors, and enhance well-being.<ref name="CCD2007">{{cite journal | vauthors = Myers SM, Johnson CP | title = Management of children with autism spectrum disorders | journal = Pediatrics | volume = 120 | issue = 5 | pages = 1162–1182 | date = November 2007 | pmid = 17967921 | doi = 10.1542/peds.2007-2362 | url = https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/120/5/1162 | doi-access = free }}</ref> The autistic culture and autism rights movement includes those who argue that autism should be accepted as a natural part of the diversity of kinds of people.<ref name=Sil2008>{{cite journal |journal=BioSocieties |year=2008 |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=325–341 |title=Fieldwork on another planet: social science perspectives on the autism spectrum | vauthors = Silverman C |s2cid=145379758 |doi=10.1017/S1745855208006236}}</ref><ref name=Frith2014>{{cite news |last=Frith |first=Uta | name-list-format = vanc |title=Autism – are we any closer to explaining the enigma? |url=https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-27/edition-10/autism-are-we-any-closer-explaining-enigma |work=The Psychologist (magazine) |publisher=British Psychological Society |date=October 2014 |volume=27 |pages=744–745}}</ref> In the 2000s, the number of autistic people was estimated at 1–2 per 1,000 people worldwide.<ref name=News2007>{{cite journal | vauthors = Newschaffer CJ, Croen LA, Daniels J, Giarelli E, Grether JK, Levy SE, Mandell DS, Miller LA, Pinto-Martin J, Reaven J, Reynolds AM, Rice CE, Schendel D, Windham GC | title = The epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders | journal = Annual Review of Public Health | volume = 28 | pages = 235–258 | year = 2007 | pmid = 17367287 | doi = 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.28.021406.144007 }}</ref> Recent U.S. estimates suggest that approximately 1 in every 36 children is on the autism spectrum (Maenner et al., 2023)<ref>Maenner, M.J., Warren, Z., Williams, A.R., et al. (2023). Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2020. MMWR Surveill Summ; 72(No. SS-2):1–14. DOI: <nowiki>http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss7202a1</nowiki></ref>, and roughly 1 in every 45 adults is on the autism spectrum (Dietz et al., 2020)<ref>Dietz, P. M., Rose, C. E., McArthur, D., & Maenner, M. (2020). National and State Estimates of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 50(12), 4258–4266. DOI: <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04494-4</nowiki></ref>.

[[File:autigender.png|thumb|Autigender [[Flags|flag]] created by noitspronouncedgif.<ref>http://pride-flags-for-us.tumblr.com/post/123783742554/fascigender-and-autigender-flags-from-the-pride</ref> The black infinity symbol refers to the rainbow infinity symbol that means neurodiversity.]]

* '''Demographics:''' In the 2016 Nonbinary/Genderqueer Survey, one of the respondents called their gender identity "autistic," and another said "autisgender."<ref name=NBGQ2016>"NB/GQ Survey 2016 - the worldwide results." ''Gender Census.'' March 19, 2016. http://gendercensus.tumblr.com/post/141311159050/nbgq-survey-2016-the-worldwide-results</ref> In the 2019 Worldwide Gender Census, 66 of the respondents (0.59%) called their gender identity autigender, autgender, autistic, or autiqueer. Several of these included explanations from the survey respondents that they meant that autism was their gender, or had a significant effect on their understanding of gender.<ref name="2019 Gender Census">"Gender Census 2019 - the worldwide TL;DR." ''Gender Census.'' March 31, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2020. https://gendercensus.com/post/183843963445/gender-census-2019-the-worldwide-tldr Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20200118084451/https://gendercensus.com/post/183843963445/gender-census-2019-the-worldwide-tldr</ref> In the 2020 Gender Census, 82 people were autigender, five people were autgender, one person reported they were "autigender maybe", two reported "autism gender"/"autismgender", one person was "autiegender", and one person was "autigender male" (total of 92 people whose gender is affected by their autism).<ref name="GC2020">[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1j7mwkZVtQYHxNlgS2J8onVCpVz-l1aJbBzG7msN5rxs/edit#gid=260963482 GC2020 Public Copy], 1 November 2020</ref>

Borderline personality disorder (BPD)<ref name="NICEGuidelines2009">{{cite book|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK55415/|title=Borderline personality disorder NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 78|date=2009|publisher=British Psychological Society}}</ref> is a mental illness characterized by a long-term pattern of unstable relationships, distorted sense of self, and strong emotional reactions.<ref name=NIH2016>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-disorder/index.shtml|title=Borderline Personality Disorder|website=NIMH|access-date=16 March 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322130612/http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-disorder/index.shtml|archive-date=22 March 2016}}</ref><ref name=DSM5 /> People with BPD tend to have trouble seeing their identity clearly. In particular, they tend to have difficulty knowing what they value, believe, prefer, and enjoy.<ref name=Manning_23>{{cite book|title=Loving Someone with Borderline Personality Disorder|last=Manning|first=Shari| name-list-format = vanc |publisher=The Guilford Press|year=2011|isbn=978-1-59385-607-6|ref=harv}} Page 23.</ref> They may also tend to dissociate, which can be thought of as an intense form of "zoning out".<ref name=Manning_24>{{cite book|title=Loving Someone with Borderline Personality Disorder|last=Manning|first=Shari| name-list-format = vanc |publisher=The Guilford Press|year=2011|isbn=978-1-59385-607-6|ref=harv}} Page 24.</ref> They are often unsure about their long-term goals for relationships and jobs. This can cause people with BPD to feel "empty" and "lost".<ref name=Manning_23/> Individuals often engage in self-harm, substance abuse, depression, eating disorders, and other dangerous behavior.<ref name=NIH2016/> Approximately 10% of people affected die by suicide.<ref name=NIH2016/><ref name=DSM5 /> The behavior typically begins by early adulthood and occurs across a variety of situations.<ref name=DSM5 /> BPD is typically treated with therapy, which may reduce the risk of suicide.<ref name=NIH2016/> Medications do not cure BPD, but can help with the symptoms.<ref name=NIH2016/> About 1.6% of people have BPD in a given year, with some estimates as high as 6%.<ref name=NIH2016/><ref name=DSM5/>  

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in some combination of hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impairs daily functioning.<ref name="mayo_Schi">{{Cite web |title=Schizophrenia |author= |work=Mayo Clinic |date=7 January 2020 |access-date=12 November 2020 |url= https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354443}}</ref>

[[File:Skhizeingender.png|thumb|Skhizeingender [[Flags|flag]] created by psychotic-corvidae.<ref>{{cite web|title=Decided to make a flag for Skhizeingender since it didn’t have one!|date=29 March 2020|url=https://ask-pride-color-schemes.tumblr.com/post/613970605817085952/decided-to-make-a-flag-for-skhizeingender-since-it}}</ref>]]

* '''Meaning:'''  A gender strongly connected to someone's schizophrenia, or gender that is difficult to describe or communicate because of schizophrenia.<ref name="xeno-aligned-Skhizein">{{cite web|url=https://xeno-aligned.tumblr.com/post/183389604356/are-there-any-psychosisschizophrenia-specific|title=Anonymous asks: Are there any psychosis/schizophrenia specific genders/sexualities etc|date=12 March 2019}}</ref>

* '''Meaning:''' As originally described by its coiners, gendervague is "a nonbinary gender that can only be used by neurodivergent people [...] it means that your gender is not definable with words because of one’s status as neurodivergent. the black and gray flag represents brain fog, as well as vagueness."<ref name="vague coin" /> Later, in 2016, autistic activist [[Lydia X. Z. Brown]] (b. 1993) wrote, "I've started referring to myself as gendervague, a term coined within the autistic community to refer to a specifically neurodivergent experience of trans/gender identity. For many of us, gender mostly impacts our lives when projected onto us through other people's assumptions, but holds little intrinsic meaning. Someone who is gendervague cannot separate their gender identity from their neurodivergence – being autistic doesn't ''cause'' my gender identity, but it is inextricably related to how I understand and experience gender. [...] For many (but certainly not all) autistic people, we can’t make heads or tails of either the widespread assumption that everyone fits neatly into categories of men and women or the nonsensical characteristics expected or assumed of womanhood and manhood. Recent research has shown that autistic people are more likely to identify as transgender or [[genderqueer]] than non-autistic people. That’s not surprising to me, because I've met far more trans or genderqueer people in autistic spaces than I have anywhere else."<ref name="Brown">{{Cite web |title=Gendervague: At the Intersection of Autistic and Trans Experiences |last=Brown |first=Lydia X. Z. |work=The Asperger / Autism Network (AANE) |date=22 June 2016 |access-date=9 June 2020 |url= https://www.aane.org/gendervague-intersection-autistic-trans-experiences/}}</ref> Another gendervague person, the author Max Sparrow, wrote that "gendervague helps to create a community where people understand that disability can affect gender presentation as much as or even more than inherent gender identity. Identity labels so often focus on sifting out one aspect of identity, holding it apart and separate from other aspects of our lives.  Gendervague is an inherently intersected identity, honoring two different facets of identity equally, simultaneously more exclusive and more inclusive."<ref name="transtistic">{{cite web|last=Sparrow|first=Max|title=What is gendervague?|work=Transtistic: At the Intersection of Transtistic and Autgender (blog)|date=June 17, 2017|access-date=April 11, 2019|url=https://transtistic.wordpress.com/2017/06/17/what-is-gendervague|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411000915/https://transtistic.wordpress.com/2017/06/17/what-is-gendervague|archive-date=April 11, 2019}}</ref>

* '''Notable people who call themselves gendervague:''' As mentioned above, activist [[Lydia X. Z. Brown]] and author Max Sparrow are gendervague. (Sparrow describes themself as "gendervague [[epicene]]".<ref name="Sparrow-about">{{Cite web |title=About |author=Sparrow, Max |work=Transtistic |date= |access-date=5 October 2020 |url= https://transtistic.wordpress.com/about/ |quote=Max Sparrow, Neuroqueer author and gendervague epicene }}</ref>)

[[File:Pendogender.png|thumb|Pendogender [[Flags|flag]] created by pastelmemer.<ref>http://pride-flags-for-us.tumblr.com/post/123466666709/is-there-a-pendogender-flag {{dead link}}</ref><ref>https://pride-color-schemes.tumblr.com/post/148289378876/pendogender</ref>]]