Breathe
By Renee Ontiveros Cárdenas
I would like to say that I am a 23 year old girl like any other, but no, in my case the difference did not mark my life, rather, they have tried to mark the difference to stop me. I'm neurodivergent but I have the same conditions as the rest of the girls: full of energy, dreams, vitality, hot for boys, need to belong, I love musical theater, and building friendships.
I do not consider that being autistic made it impossible for me to enjoy or live my life, but it has been a limitation for all those who are afraid of the difference or do not know what to do with a diagnosis or condition. I am a woman like everyone else with fingers and toes, a heart beating to fulfill my dreams, a strong voice not only to sing, but also to express my thoughts, and feet that love to dance (sometimes I think they are two left feet hahaha).
I decided to enter the Bachelor's Degree in Communication betting on improving the channels of communication between people who do not want to understand the difference or, rather, insisted on emphasizing my difficulty to integrate and socialize. You know? I have had to work on this last point by walking alone among corridors and classrooms where the flag of communication is the banner of my institution.
Imagine: I arrived at the university full of dreams, ideas and the hope of making great friends. However, despite being surrounded by people, at times I feel invisible, it's as if a kind of apathy is in the air. I can't help but notice that they often don't know how to interact with me. And that, sometimes, hurts more than any hurtful comment. So, I want to open a window into my world and, hopefully, help raise awareness about the importance of inclusion in our universities.
This March 8, International Women's Day, is a date that invites us to reflect on the achievements made in the struggle for gender equality and women's rights around the world. However, it is critical to broaden this conversation to include women who are often invisibilized: women with autism. This day is an opportunity to make visible our experiences, our struggles and the urgent need for inclusion and acceptance.
It's not that I want preferential treatment, what I crave is something simple: FRIENDSHIP. I want to be part of work groups, share laughs in the university cafeteria and enjoy those moments of youth that we all treasure. But how do I achieve this when it seems that the difference becomes a barrier? There are days when fighting for my well-being and connecting with others feels like a full-time job.
Neurodivergent women face unique challenges in our daily lives. Often, autism presents differently in women than in men, which can lead to our needs and experiences being overlooked. While autistic males often receive a diagnosis at a young age, many females are diagnosed later, or even never, due to a lack of understanding about how autism manifests in us.
This not only affects our access to appropriate care and support, but also perpetuates stigmatization and lack of acceptance. Autistic women often feel pressured to conform to societal norms, which can result in internal struggle and significant emotional toll. The pressure to fit into a world that does not always understand us can place us in a situation of isolation, loneliness, facing significant barriers in areas such as education, employment and social life.
The struggle for inclusion not only involves recognizing our abilities and talents, but also creating an environment that values diversity and fosters acceptance. I come from a family of women who love music, on this March 8th, today more than ever a song resonates in me which I shout to the four winds:
There's no need to despise mePut yourself in my place, let's see what you would doThe difference between you and me, would be heartThat if I were in your place
That if I were youYes, yes, yes I would love you
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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