Maybe No One Knows We Need Help: Understanding the Experiences of Autistic Working Mothers in Australia

Background: Although there are no known studies investigating autistic working mothers, research has demonstrated that managing employment and motherhood in non-autistic populations has specific challenges, as does employment in autistic populations. This autistic-led study aimed at investigating the experience of autistic working mothers to identify benefits, challenges, and support needs. Methods: We utilized a subjectivist epistemological perspective to learn about the experiences of autistic working mothers. We recruited 10 autistic working mothers (aged 34-50 years) via social media advertisements, who participated in a 45- to 60-minute semi-structured interview where we asked questions developed in consultation with a community reference group. We transcribed interviews and then analyzed them using inductive reflexive thematic analysis. Results: We identified three key themes. The first theme, Wellbeing: Work gives me purpose,'' discusses how employment supports mental well-being. The second theme, Challenges: It's hard being an autistic working mother,'' includes the challenges of balancing work and caregiving, guilt related to being a working mother, and issues with part-time work. The third theme, The invisible disability: Everyone thinks I look okay,'' discusses the lack of understanding of participants' challenges, with assumptions they are coping, and the lack of supports that led to some participants no longer seeking assistance. Conclusions: The responses of the autistic women who took part support a view that autistic working mothers may experience some similar challenges to non-autistic working mothers, including stress in juggling caring and work roles. They identified additional challenges related to their gender and their autistic identity, including a lack of understanding of the female (or internalized'') presentation of autism. These findings will help autistic working mothers by promoting a better understanding of their experiences and challenges when they speak with health professionals, government, and employers seeking support and accommodations.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the experiences of autistic working mothers and identify their challenges and support needs. Through interviews with 10 autistic working mothers, the researchers found that employment has a positive impact on their mental well-being, but they also face challenges in balancing work and caregiving, experiencing guilt as working mothers, and dealing with part-time work. These findings are important for understanding the experiences and challenges of autistic working mothers and advocating for support and accommodations.