Dr. Aleksandra Kupferberg’s Post

What if I told you that behind the 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐥, fueled by ,#ADHD and 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥 #𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? 𝐀𝐃𝐇𝐃 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, a survival strategy, weighs even heavier on women who've conformed to outdated feminine ideals 🏋️. Building a more inclusive workplace for neurodivergent women starts with understanding their obstacles. Ignoring their perspective can lead to well-intentioned yet misguided advice like "𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟." ADHD masking involves intentionally altering behavior to hide differences. It's a survival strategy for neurodivergent individuals navigating a workforce that isn't built for them. But it's exhausting, contributing to burnout and self-deprecation. It's like juggling multiple jobs simultaneously, both emotionally and mentally 🤹. Women are less likely to receive accurate ADHD diagnoses in childhood, with boys twice as likely, according to the CDC. Many women are diagnosed in their 30s, 40s, and 50s after years of misdiagnoses like depression or anxiety, honing their masking skills. Gender disparities persist, especially for women of color and non-binary individuals. Neurodivergence complicates this further. Women often walk a fragile tightrope at work, where feminine traits aren't necessarily seen as leadership material. Neurodivergent traits can be misunderstood or exposed, adding complexity. Unconscious bias often forces people to adapt perceptions to meet expectations. Women at work face clashing stereotypes and common ADHD symptoms, creating executive function challenges. Not conforming can result in backlash affecting a neurodivergent woman's standing and security. Neurodivergent women face the challenge of ceasing masking behaviors, liberating yet risky. Gender bias adds complexity. Starting open discussions about work preferences with colleagues can be a safe first step. In navigating their professional journeys, neurodivergent women face a systemic issue that demands attention and action. #ADHD #Neurodiversity #GenderBias #Inclusion #LinkedInBlog 📝