The “Dual Masking Phenomenon”: A Critical Autoethnography of an Autistic Multiracial Latina Amid the Presence of White Autistic Researchers and Self-Advocates

Background: Autistic camouflage describes how autistic individuals assimilate allistic behavior for societal acceptance, while White mimicry demonstrates how non-White individuals assimilate White identities. These coping strategies, although different, are significant for non-White autistic individuals. Understanding them is crucial for mitigating racial and ethnic biases in autism research and clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of addressing ethnic and racial identity assimilation. Methods: I used a critical autoethnography aimed at advancing the decolonization of research and fostering equitable knowledge production. This approach entwined personal narratives with theoretical frameworks, transcending mere depiction. Validation of findings through peer debriefing was instrumental, while my positioning as a multiracial Latina expounded the intricate dimensions of racial identity and bias within the study’s context. Results: The findings revealed the “dual masking phenomenon” in non-White autistic individuals, encompassing both White mimicry and autistic camouflage. These complexities reveal challenges within racially influenced societal contexts, advocating for tailored support for non-White autistic individuals. Narratives unveiled prevalent tokenism, microaggressions, privilege, epistemicide, and meritocracy within predominantly White autistic environments, uncovering systemic barriers and the pressure to assimilate Whiteness to access opportunities. The study underscores the imperative to question neutrality and rectify disparities within the non-White autistic community. Discussion: The inadequacy of relying solely on autistic camouflage among non-White autistic individuals within racially influenced societal settings is highlighted. Instead, adopting traits associated with Whiteness seems to offer a more effective approach. The “dual masking phenomenon” reveals this systemic challenge—the pressure for assimilation faced by non-White autistic individuals, worsened by the prevailing systemic racism in predominantly White environments, as illustrated in the results. Recommendations include incorporating racial factors into research by racializing the experiences of White autistic individuals, educating health care professionals on racial dynamics, and fostering resilience and racial stamina, to address disparities within the non-White autistic community.