My 14 year old granddaughter was early diagnosed with autism. She is still somewhat socially awkward, but is a straight A student, a junior pilot, a brown belt in Taekwondo, can solve a Rubik’s cube in under 30 seconds and has aspirations to be a commercial airline pilot.
Other than that, she’s perfectly normal.
My best guess is that about half of MIT graduates could be called Asberger’s/Autist according to the latest fashionable description.
Asberger’s tends to be a genetic or familial trait, and true Autism tends to generally be environmental or medical misfortune (vaccine injury, etc), and there may be other yet unidentified causes
There are many women who are Asbergers and/or”neurodivergent”, but generally women learn more easily how to hide or mask their interests and intellectual abilities so they will “fit in”, and usually are harder to properly diagnose.
Many of these women, as they age, find “masking” tiring, and superficial socialization is really boring.
Your granddaughter may not be that socially awkward in a group of kids at her own intellectual level. Finding friends who function on her level is very hard to do, particularly in small towns. And teen girls can be truly nasty to other girls, just totally mean.
And, to help bring info to those who may not know about Asbergers, or Autism, as they want now to call it... here is what is said about women now, trying to clarify a bit...Copied and pasted from the link at the bottom, with me doing a bit of making it easier to read..
Common Traits of Female Asperger Syndrome
Social Motivation: Females often show a desire to form friendships, which may lead them to mask their autistic traits.
Communication Style: They may be more expressive than males and can engage in conversation, but may struggle with understanding social cues.
Friendship Dynamics: Females may have fewer friends but often maintain close relationships, sometimes misunderstanding social dynamics.
Emotional and Sensory Experiences
Internalized Symptoms: Females may experience anxiety or depression rather than external behaviors like aggression, which can lead to misdiagnosis.
Sensory Sensitivities: Many report heightened sensitivity to sensory inputs, such as sounds, textures, and lights.
Repetitive Behaviors: Interests may align with those of non-autistic peers, such as reading or crafting, but can be more intense or focused.
Camouflaging: Females often learn to mimic socially acceptable behaviors, which can lead to mental exhaustion and stress.
Sense of Identity: They may struggle with a strong sense of self, especially before diagnosis, and often feel different from peers.
Eccentricity: Many display unique personal styles or interests that may be perceived as quirky or eccentric.
Understanding these traits can help in recognizing Asperger syndrome in females, who are often underdiagnosed due to societal expectations and stereotypes.”
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=female+asperger+syndrome+traits&t=osx&ia=web