Manly While Stimming: Autism and the Myth of the Masculine Ideal

Unmasking Autism meets Notes on Being a Man in this one-of-a-kind reimagining of contemporary masculinity in the autism community.

Society’s definition of masculinity—celebrating aggression, sexual conquest, and athleticism—is limiting and outdated for any contemporary man. But it’s even worse for autistic men and boys, who are either criticized for not being “man enough” or wrongly linked to political extremism and masculinity’s most toxic aspects. There is a better, more authentic way to be a man, one not currently modeled for the autism community. Journalist Eric Garcia is determined to change that. 

In Manly While Stimming, Garcia offers a new, healthy vision of 21st century manhood, expansive enough for all neurotypes. Sharing his own story alongside those from other autistic sons, brothers, fathers, and experts in the field, he argues that feeling intensely and expressing emotion through stimming does not devalue an autistic person’s manhood or existence—especially if our standards for being a good man become more inclusive. Speaking directly to autistic men and those that love them, this hopeful book imagines a world where men of all neurotypes have positive role models, and shows us how we can make that dream a reality.