Autigender is a neurogender, a term used by some autistic individuals to describe a gender identity that is intrinsically linked to their experience of autism. For people who identify as autigender, their autism profoundly influences and shapes their understanding and experience of their own gender.

Here's a breakdown of what that means:

Gender Experienced Through the Lens of Autism: Autigender individuals often feel that their gender identity cannot be separated from their autistic identity. The way they perceive, understand, and express gender is filtered through their unique autistic experience.

Individual and Diverse: The experience of being autigender is highly individual and varies greatly from person to person. There is no single way to "be" autigender.

Connection to Sensory Processing, Social Interaction, and Cognition: For some autigender individuals, their gender identity might be connected to:

• Sensory experiences: Certain textures, colours, or sensory inputs might feel more aligned with a particular gender.
• Social understanding: Navigating social constructs of gender can be different and might lead to a unique understanding of their own gender.
• Cognitive processing: The way they think and categorise information might influence how they understand and label their gender.
• Special interests: Sometimes, a strong interest can become intertwined with their sense of gender.

Not a Separate "Third Gender": Autigender isn't necessarily a specific gender identity in itself (like male, female, or non-binary). Rather, it's a descriptor of how someone experiences their gender, whatever that gender may be (it could be male, female, non-binary, agender, etc.).

Valid Neurogender Identity: Autigender is a valid way for autistic individuals to understand and describe their gender identity if it resonates with their experience. It acknowledges the significant impact of neurodivergence on one's sense of self.

Self-identification: The term is primarily used by autistic individuals to describe their own experiences. It's important to respect someone's self-identification as autigender.

In simple terms, autigender describes a gender identity that is deeply intertwined with an individual's experience of being autistic. For someone who is autigender, their autism is not separate from their gender identity but rather a fundamental aspect of how they understand and feel their gender.