Asperger's and Girls in Aspies

Aug 31, 2013 Maxine (Booklover Catlady) rated it it was ok

Shelves: non-fiction-read, aspergers-autism-bookshelf

I was very disappointed in this book, the book is a compilation of contributing writers, some with Aspergers, some without. Tony Attwood only contributes at the start of the book. As a woman with Aspergers who works with people with Aspergers and has a son with Aspergers, I found this book inaccurate in places, annoying in others and some of the contributing writers even contradicted each other. I don't think the book effectively portrays a true picture of AS in girls/women at all.

The book made I was very disappointed in this book, the book is a compilation of contributing writers, some with Aspergers, some without. Tony Attwood only contributes at the start of the book. As a woman with Aspergers who works with people with Aspergers and has a son with Aspergers, I found this book inaccurate in places, annoying in others and some of the contributing writers even contradicted each other. I don't think the book effectively portrays a true picture of AS in girls/women at all.

The book made me angry in places as to the inaccuracy of the information, such as stating that an early sign of AS in school age girls is messy, sloppy handwriting and that AS girls won't be as interested or able to colour-in between the lines, whilst this may be true for a percentage of girls with AS it's not a defining notable "sign". I mean hey, I won a competition in England at age 7 for having the neatest handwriting in England! I also never ever went over the lines when colouring in as I was and still am an attention to detail person and perfectionist. I was horrified that parents and professionals may read this book and take it as gospel.

The chapter on navigating the social hierarchy of girls in school was ridiculous, there is no way a young girl/teen with AS could absorb, follow or act on the complex social rules suggested by the writer (who isn't on the spectrum herself however her brother is) High school is a minefield for girls with AS and that chapter simply would be too confusing and the tactics unlikely to work in my experience of being (once upon a time) a teen with Aspergers and also from my years working with teenage girls on the spectrum.

The best chapters were by the writers who had Aspergers themselves, some better than others. I always find if you want to truly understand Aspergers then ask an Aspie, they know best right? They live with it daily, simple really.

The book was disjointed, badly edited and overall a confusing portrayal of Aspergers in Girls, very sad as we desperately need good books about women and girls with Aspergers. I essentially would not recommend this book, and fluctuate between giving it one star or two, I gave it two simply for the couple of good sections that contributing writers with Aspergers wrote. There are much better books on the market if you want to understand Aspergers in girls/women, I think I've read them all now. ...more

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Dec 07, 2017 Rachael rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: dont-own, audiobooks-dramatisations, non-fiction

I didn't personally find this useful at all. The only part I seemed to agree with was the need for more clear and thorough sex education, including topics like periods and personal hygiene. Though that isn't exactly specific to girls with AS it's still important for all in my opinion.
It felt very heteronormative and put a lot of emphasis on girls with AS dating males, having sex with males and marrying males. Which still wouldn't have worked for me if it had been more inclusive because only onc ...more

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