Understanding Masking

Understanding Masking

What is Masking

Masking, also referred to as camouflaging, is when autistic people change their behavior to better “fit in” with their social environment. Some examples of masking include:

• Making eye contact while having a conversation, even though it makes the individual uncomfortable
• Mimicking facial expressions other people make during conversations
• Limiting the amount of time that they spend discussing their favorite topics
• Suppressing stimming – e.g. hand flapping, echolalia, etc…
• Development of social scripts – i.e. planning ahead what someone may say to create a script for common conversations

Risks and Benefits of Masking

Masking may have some short-term benefits for autistic people, such as helping them “fit in” in social situations and avoid social stigma.  However, masking can cause some serious harms in the long term.

First, masking can mean that autistic people spend a lot of time behaving in a way that feels confusing or inauthentic to them.  They may feel like they have to act like different person in order to get through the day.  They may have to do things that they don’t really understand (like making eye contact) in order to avoid being seen as rude.  They may have to plan out what they are going to say when they know that they’ll have to socialize.  When the normal events of life cause them anxiety, they may not know how to make themselves feel calm again because the people around them don’t know what stimming is.  As in these examples, autistic people may often feel like they are stuck putting on a performance that won’t end.  Even people who enjoy acting want a break sometimes and autistic may feel like they lack the space to be themselves.  As a result, some autistic people might go out of their way to avoid social situations and some autistic people can develop anxiety disorders or depression.

Another major concern related to masking is that autistic people who mask well may not be easily identified as autistic.  Put another way, they might blend in with other people so well that doctors won’t be able to tell that they are autistic.  If doctors can’t tell when someone is autistic, they can’t do certain things to help them – they won’t be able to help the autistic person get a diagnosis or help them find therapies they may need.  Getting therapies quickly helps autistic people learn social skills, language skills, and self-regulation techniques that can help them at home and at school.

In addition, if masking keeps an autistic person from being identified, their families won’t have opportunities to learn about autism or receive resources to help them care for the autistic person.  Having a diagnosis can help autistic people and their families access support services, educational resources, and community programs that reduce stress within the family and reduce financial burdens.

Lastly, others may assume that autistic people who mask well don’t need help or that their autism isn’t “real.”  Because autism is such a spectrum, some autistic people may mask well but still have considerably difficulties in other aspects of their lives.  Masking well may make it more difficult for autistic people to receive accommodations that they need at work or school.  For example, an autistic person may have taught themselves how to socialize with their colleagues at work.  Since the autistic person is able to socialize, their colleagues may incorrectly assume that the person’s autism does not impact other parts of their job and ignore requests for accommodation.  Also, masking well might make other people assume that masking is effortless.  They might see the autistic person fitting in with others and ignore the constant mental strain that masking can inflict.  As such, the autistic people might be asked to engage in types of situations that are very difficult for them.

Masking in Autistic Women and Girls

Masking is very common among most autistic people, although studies have shown that autistic women are more likely to demonstrate masking than autistic men. This may be the because different expectations are placed on women and girls in social environments or because autistic girls may have a slight advantage in reading social cues.  Better or more frequent masking may contribute to the fact that women are less frequently diagnosed with autism than men and that girls are generally diagnosed later than boys.

Unmasking

It is crucial that society makes autistic people feel welcome.  Autistic people have a lot to share with the world both personally and professionally but it is difficult for them to share their gifts if they know they can’t be themselves.  Knowing what masking is can make caregivers, teachers, co-workers, and other community members more responsive to the needs of autistic people.  Knowing what common behaviors in autism look like can help communities embrace those who are not neurotypical.  Helping autistic people move through life unmasked will make them feel more at home in their communities, and in turn community members will benefit from the strengths that autistic people are uniquely able to bring to their schools and workplaces.

By McKenzie Clark and The Autism ToolKit

National Libraries of Medicine Sources

Alaghband-Rad, J., Hajikarim-Hamedani, A., & Motamed, M. (2023). Camouflage and masking behavior in adult autism. Frontiers in psychiatry, 14, 1108110. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1108110

Pearson, A., & Rose, K. (2021). A Conceptual Analysis of Autistic Masking: Understanding the Narrative of Stigma and the Illusion of Choice. Autism in adulthood : challenges and management, 3(1), 52–60. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2020.0043

Other Sources

Masking. (2025). https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/behaviour/masking#:~:text=changing%20speech%20or%20tone%20of,as%20playing%20with%20a%20pen