To neurodivergent Women

Neurodivergent women have beautiful, curious minds that operate in unique and unconventional ways. We dig deep, make connections many others don’t, think out of the box and excel in our beloved topics and areas of interest. When we’re in hyperfocus, our minds are on fire!

Therein lies so much potential. Potential to share our knowledge and wisdom with the world, to enter conversations and discourse, to contribute to research, innovation and social change.

And yet, many women my age grew up being taught to tone ourselves down and to dim our light. To not ask too many questions. To not be so ‘nosy’. To not ‘brag’. To not ‘ramble on endlessly’ about what brought us great passion and unbridled enthusiasm.

Instead, we were encouraged to sit quietly, be patient, understanding, timid and polite. To not speak up and to not be assertive. Not because our parents weren’t loving or supportive, but because this was the societal image that girls had to fit into.

It led us to having to suppress our passion for our special interests, holding ourselves back from expressing our joy, expertise and thought-provoking ideas connected to these interests. Instead, we were guided to seek approval and validation from outside – mostly from men as representatives of positions of authority and expertise…

To all my fellow neurodivergent women out there: Imagine the space you’ll gain in that brilliant mind of yours once you strip yourselves from the notion that your contribution to society depends on the affirmative gaze of others.

Whether we pursue our passions and special interests professionally, or out of pure joy and excitement for the subject matter – we make great artists, mentors, researchers, activists, poets, writers, scientists, educators, historians, musicians, detectives, speakers, entertainers, leaders…

With our bottom-up thinking we create change and innovation and help shape a society with a more nuanced understanding for diversity, inclusion, creativity, compassion, vulnerability, courage and leadership.

I’d like for us to become our greatest and most passionate cheerleaders, so let me finish by cheering you on: unleash your imagination, throw those brilliant thoughts, musings, reflections and ideas out there and dare to shine!

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Important: this post is not meant to exclude or neglect any other members of the human population. It is simply shining its light on a specific subgroup of this population: my fellow neurodivergent women. It goes without saying that what I write here applies equally to everyone else – in slightly adapted form, of course.