Camouflage
The Hidden Lives of Women with Autism
Checking Availibility...Description
Autism in women and girls is still not widely understood, and is often misrepresented or even overlooked. This graphic novel offers an engaging and accessible insight into the lives and minds of women with autism, using real-life case studies. The charming illustrations lead readers on a visual journey of how women on the spectrum experience everyday life, from metaphors and masking behaviours to communication online, dealing with social pressures and managing relationships.
Fun, sensitive and informative, this is a fantastic resource for anyone who wishes to understand how gender affects autism, and how to create safer, more accommodating environments for women on the spectrum.
About this Author
Dr Sarah Bargiela is a clinical psychologist who specialises in autism. She has also been a key worker for children with autism, and holds an MA in Child Development.
Sophie Standing is a London-based illustrator and designer, specialising in human sciences. Her style combines digital and hand-made, with an emphasis on rich colour, textures and metaphorical concepts.
Reviews
As a medical comic, an educational comic, it's really well done, imparting knowledge with ease, simple, clear, effective. Using comics for this (and make no mistake, this is, definitely, a comic), is a perfect fit, getting factual information through to many who simply either wouldn't be able to, or more likely, wouldn't wish to, access it through plain text... When it comes to autism, no matter how aware we think we are, there's always more to discover. Which is just what Camouflage does very well, breaking down the subject with a clarity and simplicity, yet without sparing any factual details or the personal experiences of women with autism. I guarantee that you'll finish Camouflage with a better understanding of an important issue. And in that sense, Camouflage is a hugely successful thing... Hopefully, this will be something that will be embraced by schools, libraries, medical practices, and should be an essential read for anyone with autism, or anyone affected by autism.
And frankly, given that we're all on the spectrum somewhere, you will, definitely, know someone affected by autism. Isn't it time you knew a little more?
Using a combination of intriguing science facts and moving personal accounts, psychologist Bargiela explains why doctors more rarely identify autism in women than in men. Beginning with the history of autism research, Bargiela shows that studies don't focus enough on the differences between men's and women's brains and skills, such as women's greater talent for 'social mimicry,' and therefore miss the ways autism manifests in women. Bargiela ensures that the medical information is understandable, and when potentially confusing terms arise, quick and concise footnotes are provided. She includes interviews with three autistic women, in which she asked each the same four questions about her life experiences. The responses are revealing; one woman says her assumption that her romantic partners are truthful makes her vulnerable to those who want to take advantage of her. Standing's art is subtle, enhancing the information being shared without distracting from the subject matter. The artwork is reminiscent of art deco, with distinct illustrations and a calming color palette. This informative work has insights for those familiar with or new to autism studies, and readers will feel the interviews add an important perspective.
A fantastic, easy-to-digest book for anyone hoping to understand how we can create a safer, more accommodating environment for women on the spectrum.
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