What Hannah Gadsby Wants People to Learn About Autism in 'Douglas'
Editor's Note
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What happened: In a new interview with Vogue Australia, comedian Hannah Gadsby shared what she hopes people learn about autism from her new Netflix special, “Douglas.” “Douglas” is Gadsby’s follow-up to her critically acclaimed special “Nanette,” in which she laid bare the trauma behind her jokes. In “Douglas,” Gadsby returns to a more traditional stand-up format, but this time, it’s about providing a window into how autistic people think.
The show’s not just that I have autism, it’s that the whole show is constructed to express an autistic way of thinking — I’m not sure autistic is the right word, you know, a neurodiverse way of thinking. — Hannah Gadsby
The frontlines: Gadsby previously revealed she was diagnosed with autism as an adult. Gadsby shared that getting a diagnosis was an affirming moment, but it took a long time to get there. Autism is often missed in girls.
- Studies on autism have typically focused on how neurodiversity presents in boys, not girls, and the presentation is often different
- Research suggests girls are more likely than boys to mask their autistic traits in social situations and mimic typical social expressions
- As a result of not getting an autism diagnosis, many girls grow up without the understanding, support and resources they need to affirm their neurodiversity and support their mental health and well-being
A Mighty Voice: Our contributor, Molly D. Dann-Pipinias, shared how much she felt seen as an autistic woman thanks to Gadsby’s “Douglas.” “To see someone up there telling jokes in a way that made sense to me was something I never thought I would get to experience.” You can submit your first person story, too.
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From Our Community:
Add your voice: Join the Distract Me group on The Mighty by downloading our app or comment below.
Other things to know: For more insight, check out these other Mighty stories:
- Why Hannah Gadsby’s New Comedy Special Means So Much to Me as an Autistic Woman
- Could You Be an Autistic Woman?
- Why It’s Harder for Girls to Get an Autism Diagnosis
Where to watch: If you haven’t seen it already, you can watch Gadsby’s “Douglas” on Netflix and check out the trailer below.
Header image screenshot via Netflix
Renée Fabian was the features editor at The Mighty. She has also written for The Washington Post, VICE, Healthline, Talkspace, The Fix, The Establishment, The Culture Trip, and GRAMMY.com, among others. Renée was named a 2019 AHCJ Comparative Effectiveness Research fellow, a 2020 USC Center for Health Journalism California fellow, and holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and a master's degree in psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles. You can follow her on Twitter @ryfabian.
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