ADHD in Girls: Another Dose of Patriarchal Piffle

Alright, lads and lasses, gather ‘round for another thrilling instalment of “How the Medical Establishment Continues to Balls Up Neurodiversity.” Today’s special: a Newsweek article that purports to unveil the “15 Overlooked Signs of ADHD in Girls.” Spoiler alert: it’s about as revelatory as finding out Boris Johnson has questionable hair.

Me being me, I’ve seen my fair share of articles attempting to “educate” the masses about neurodiversity. But this one? It’s a special breed of exasperating.

Let’s start with the obvious, shall we? The article, penned by one Dr. Janina Maschke, reads like a shopping list for stereotypes. Girls with ADHD are “shy,” “cry easily,” and are “highly sensitive.” Blimey, it’s as if we've time-travelled back to the 1950s, where women were considered too delicate to open their own jam jars. One almost expects the good doctor to prescribe a fainting couch and some smelling salts.

But wait, there’s more! This gem of journalistic brilliance is, in fact, a thinly veiled advert for Dr. Maschke’s upcoming book, “A Feminist Guide to ADHD,” and by extension, her practice as an “ADHD coach.” Because nothing says “feminism” quite like reinforcing gender stereotypes and pathologising normal human behaviour, right? And let’s not forget the predatory nature of the whole ADHD coaching industry. With the abysmal unemployment rates in the neurodivergent community, we can scarcely afford the book, let alone coaching sessions to teach us how to mask our true selves to fit into the crushing machinery of monopoly capitalism.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room – or rather, the elephant that’s conspicuously absent. There’s nary a mention of intersectionality in sight. It’s as if the concept is as foreign to the author as the idea of putting the milk in after the tea (a cardinal sin, I might add). The article blithely ignores the fact that neurodivergent individuals are six times more likely to be transgender. Six times! That’s not a statistical blip; it's a bloody neon sign screaming, “Pay attention to this!”

But no, instead we’re treated to a binary view of ADHD that’s about as nuanced as a sledgehammer. Boys externalise, girls internalise – it’s all so neatly packaged, isn’t it? Never mind the spectrum of gender identities, or the myriad ways ADHD can manifest across different cultures, classes, and races. Why complicate things with reality when we can stick to comfortable stereotypes?

And let’s not forget the medical model that underpins this whole sorry affair. It’s like watching a re-run of a 1990s sitcom – comfortingly familiar, but hopelessly outdated. The article clings to the idea of ADHD as a “disorder” to be diagnosed and treated, completely ignoring the growing movement towards neurodiversity acceptance.

For those of us in the know, the Power Threat Meaning Framework offers a far more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of neurodivergence. It considers the power dynamics at play (hello, patriarchy!), the threats individuals face, the meaning they make of their experiences, and their responses to those threats. But why bother with all that complexity when we can just slap a label on someone and call it a day, eh?

Speaking of power dynamics, let’s take a moment to appreciate the rich history of psychiatry, shall we? Born from the loins of patriarchy, with the charming belief that women were property. It’s heartwarming to see how far we’ve come – from viewing women as chattel to viewing them as malfunctioning machines in need of fixing. Progress, innit?

But perhaps the most galling aspect of this article is its utter failure to include the voices of actually neurodivergent individuals. It’s like writing an article about Scotland without ever having met a Scot, tasted whisky, or heard the soul-crushing wail of bagpipes at 6 am. The result is about as authentic as a deep-fried Mars bar in a Californian juice bar.

As someone straddling the worlds of neurodivergence and gender diversity, I can tell you that our experiences are far more complex and nuanced than any list of 15 ‘symptoms’ could ever capture. We’re not a collection of deficits to be treated. We’re human beings with unique perspectives and strengths, navigating a world that wasn’t built for us.

So, to Dr. Maschke and Newsweek, I say this: if you want to talk about ADHD in girls – or anyone else, for that matter – how about starting by actually talking to us? Include our voices, our experiences, our perspectives. Recognise that we’re not a monolith, that our identities intersect in complex ways, and that our neurodivergence is as much a part of us as our eye color or our accents.

And for the love of all that’s holy, can we please move beyond the medical model? It’s 2024, not 1824. We’re not broken clocks in need of fixing; we’re unique individuals with our own internal rhythms. Sometimes those rhythms don’t match the tick-tock of societal expectations, but that doesn't make them wrong.

IAs such, whilst I appreciate the attempt to shine a light on ADHD in girls, this article is about as helpful as a chocolate teapot. It’s time for a new approach – one that respects neurodiversity, embraces intersectionality, and recognises the complex interplay of societal factors that shape our experiences. One that doesn’t try to sell us “solutions” to problems that are often more about societal expectations than individual “deficits.”

Until then, I’ll be here, dreaming of a world where articles about neurodiversity are written by, you know, actual neurodivergent people. Revolutionary concept, I know. But a lass can dream, can’t she?