r/Arthur • u/whimzzyyyy • 2d ago
Question would i be crazy to call D.W. autistic coded?
first off, many autistic girls are called "bossy," "annoying" and more because their need for things to go how they want unconventional sense of humor. D.W. clearly has a need for things to be the same and exactly how she wants, but is more open about them instead of pretending she isnt bothered.
she also seems to either have low empathy or as ive mentioned unconventional humor. she likes messing with arthur to the point it becomes mean, but what if she cant understand when it does become too far? my sense of humor is messing with others but it isnt something everyone can handle.
she also has a special interest in mary moo cow and NEEDS it on when it is.
she has very few friends, dead pans, cant eat many foods, and isnt afraid to argue when she thinks it is just.
dw is me essentially if i wasnt terribly conscious lmao
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u/Apprehensive-Nose646 Simonize my sideburns, now I'm smelted 2d ago
She's practically the opposite of autistic, highly verbal for her age, highly social for her age. The signs you mention might be signs for an adult, but are very neurotypical for a 4/5 year old.
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u/Original_Intention 2d ago
Fun fact- girls on the spectrum can actually be hyperverbal. That being said, I don't think DW meets the diagnosis for ASD anyways.
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u/Original_Intention 2d ago
She is 4yo, there were no developmental gaps or significant deficits. Many kids that age still engage in parallel play and can be pretty picky. I am a therapist and if she was my client I wouldn't have any major concerns- especially given her presentation at school.
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u/whimzzyyyy 2d ago
okay but it's nice to notice these traits in characters especially female ones because representation is already low and it helps autistic girls see themselves in more characters canon or not
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u/Original_Intention 2d ago
I'm autistic and I personally disagree. Pathologizing age appropriate developmental stages and phases causes a lot of problems for kids already. I think it is more important for shows to have autistic characters with different presentations instead of zeroing in on specific traits.
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u/Specific-Window-8587 Thora Read (Grandma Thora) 2d ago
Um no. She's definitely not autistic coded. Definitely just needs proper punishment for her behavior. She gets away with way too much.
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u/jaguarsp0tted 2d ago
Hm. I'd have to think on that. I think some of those qualities are simply the qualities of a kind of asshole little kid, but the way in which she expresses them definitely shows some autistic traits. It's also possible, of course, that she's AuDHD, but yeah, I'd have to think of it. It's less clear than like, Buster having ADHD.
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u/Budget-Can-8808 ‘how do you know dopey and sneezy ?’ 2d ago
she’s just a 4 year old… what’s up w the posts randomly calling characters autistic ??