Description
1. Introduction
2. Setting the scene: social context and background
3. Deconstructing current ideas around masking
4. Stigma
5. Intersectionality: understanding masking as a stress response
6. Masking and gender
7. Masking and trauma
8. Development (of identity; of masking) and processes
9. Mechanisms of masking
10. Projecting acceptability
11. How to (safely) foster authenticity – boundaries, safe spaces etc.
12. Conclusions; summary; moving forward
Appendices: glossary
Amy Pearson is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Sunderland and an autistic autism researcher. Her work focuses on understanding the impact of interpersonal victimisation among autistic people, and the relationship between autistic identity and masking/stigma.
Kieran Rose operates the Autistic Advocate, delivering specialist training and consultancy in autism and neurodiversity. He is a published research partner with the Institute of Leadership and Management on the experiences of neurodivergent people in employment. He is a Research Associate at the University of Sunderland, co-producing qualitative research into different areas on autism with his research partner, Dr Amy Pearson.