Phillips Sophie
The University of Sheffield, UK.
Autism. 2025 Sep;29(9):2216-2227. doi: 10.1177/13623613241264887. Epub 2024 Jul 26.
The experiences of Autistic women students at university are seldom explored. In this paper, refers to anyone who self-identifies as a woman. Eleven Autistic women students participated in artefact creation and semi-structured interviews exploring their experiences with university lecturers. All data centred on their opinions and lived experiences. Five participants were undergraduate students and six participants were postgraduate students. Data were analysed by thematic analysis and data was categorised into two themes. These themes were: 'Lecturer Impact' and 'Autism Awareness and Acceptance'. 'Lecturer Impact' centred around both positive relationships participants had at university with their lecturers, and how they navigated ingrained stigmas about autism that some lecturers held. 'Autism Awareness and Acceptance' included the ways in which knowledge about autism in women and a reduction in stigma could be achieved at university, primarily by incorporating the voices of Autistic women students. The findings suggest that Autistic women students' positive relationships with lecturers are key to success. This was supported by participants wanting their opinions and lived experience to be valued particularly to assist with raising a university culture of autism acceptance. An inclusive environment at university, including Autistic women students is needed to improve positive experiences at university.Lay abstractIt is documented that more Autistic woman are becoming university students, but their experiences are not often explored. Eleven Autistic women students made artefacts (such as writing, paintings or poems) and took part in interviews to share their experiences at university. Five participants were undergraduate students and six participants were postgraduate students. The artefacts and words participants shared were looked at closely and some common themes were decided. How lecturers talk to Autistic women students was looked at. Participants said they were lucky if they met helpful lecturers. Also, autism acceptance was explored. Overall, how lecturers treat Autistic women at university is very important. Also, Autistic women students' opinions about making university a more welcoming place need to be listened to.
大学中自闭症女学生的经历很少被探究。在本文中，“女性”指任何自我认定为女性的人。11名自闭症女学生参与了手工艺品创作和半结构化访谈，探讨她们与大学讲师相处的经历。所有数据都围绕她们的观点和生活经历。5名参与者是本科生，6名参与者是研究生。通过主题分析对数据进行了分析，并将数据分为两个主题。这些主题是：“讲师的影响”和“自闭症认知与接纳”。“讲师的影响”既包括参与者在大学与讲师建立的积极关系，也包括她们如何应对一些讲师对自闭症根深蒂固的偏见。“自闭症认知与接纳”包括在大学中提高对女性自闭症的认知以及减少偏见的方法，主要是纳入自闭症女学生的声音。研究结果表明，自闭症女学生与讲师的积极关系是成功的关键。参与者希望她们的观点和生活经历得到重视，特别是有助于营造一种接纳自闭症的大学文化，这支持了上述观点。大学需要一个包容的环境，包括自闭症女学生，以改善她们在大学的积极体验。
有记录表明，越来越多的自闭症女性成为大学生，但她们的经历却很少被探究。11名自闭症女学生制作了手工艺品（如写作、绘画或诗歌）并参与访谈，分享她们在大学的经历。5名参与者是本科生，6名参与者是研究生。仔细研究了参与者分享的手工艺品和文字内容，并确定了一些共同主题。研究了讲师与自闭症女学生的沟通方式。参与者表示，如果遇到乐于助人的讲师，她们会觉得很幸运。此外，还探讨了对自闭症的接纳情况。总体而言，讲师在大学如何对待自闭症女性非常重要。同时，也需要听取自闭症女学生关于让大学更具包容性的意见。
