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What If “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” Was Just A Regular Autistic Woman?
The overlooked signs of neurodivergence in women
I recently came across a satirical article by writer Sarah Gibbs, titled:
Gibbs writes:
“A man who thought his quirky girlfriend would magically fix all his debilitating personal issues has been left “hurt and disappointed” after she transpired to be an ordinary autistic woman…”
I laughed — because it rings true.
What is a “Manic Pixie Dream Girl”?
If you haven’t come across the term “Manic Pixie Dream Girl”, it was coined by film critic Nathan Rabin in his .
He used it to describe the character Claire (played by Kirsten Dunst).
He writes:
“The Manic Pixie Dream Girl exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures.”
In the film, Claire is a flight attendant whose coy flirtations and bubbly, impulsive charm are the perfect remedy for a depressed young man.
