Share
))
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
…
continue reading
The Struggle Continues (Part 2): Masking, Mislabels & Missed Signs in a Neurotypical Society - Ep 10
Black Girl, Brown Girl...Squirrel! A Podcast for Neurodivergent Women of Color
Manage episode 522480663 series 3692471
Content provided by The Squirrels. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by The Squirrels or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.
In Part 2 of our series on the challenges of getting diagnosed as neurodivergent women of color, we’re shifting the conversation from the medical system to society itself.
This time, we’re digging into the cultural, racial, and gender-based barriers that kept us overlooked and misunderstood for decades. From being labeled “gifted” instead of supported, to masking to survive, to being called “standoffish,” “too emotional,” or “too much”—so much of what we lived through was shaped by societal expectations and stereotypes that were never designed with us in mind.
We talk about how race, culture, gender bias, and the “model minority myth” created even more roadblocks. And we open up about how these early experiences still show up in adulthood—in friendships, work, communication, and advocacy.
If you’ve ever wondered why it took so long to be seen, understood, or taken seriously, this episode is for you. We hope our stories help you recognize your own…and remind you that nothing is “wrong” with you. The world simply wasn’t built for us—so now we’re building our own spaces, together. 🐿️
TL;DR
This episode explores how society—not medicine—delayed our neurodivergent diagnoses. We break down childhood masking, racial and cultural stereotypes, gender bias, “gifted” mislabels, and why so many women of color slip through the cracks.
TIME STAMPS
00:00 — Welcome Back, Sister Squirrels (Part 2)
00:58 — “Gifted” or Misunderstood?
04:07 — Diagnostic Criteria Built Around White Boys
07:00 — When We Didn’t “Look” Autistic or ADHD
09:12 — Daydreamers, Talkers & Quiet Kids
14:26 — People-Pleasing, Sensitivity & Masking
17:31 — Race, Culture & Adult Perception
20:09 — Masking vs. Coping in a Neurotypical World
25:40 — Growing Up → Working While ND
30:50 — The “Standoffish” & “Angry Black Woman” Labels
33:19 — “Model Minority” Pressure on Asian Communities
37:26 — When Society Rewards Masking
43:53 — The Elevator Feeling: Social Scripts & Overwhelm
48:34 — Adult Identity, Friendships & Self-Advocacy
52:45 — Why Diagnosis Comes Late for Women of Color
59:02 — Learning to Advocate for Ourselves
01:05:37 — Final Thoughts
01:08:33 — Closing + Love to Our Sister Squirrels
RESOURCES
Therapist and Mental Health Resources
CONNECT WITH US
CREDITS
Editor: Payton Cross Productions
11 episodes
