You and Betty and the Nancy's and Bill's and Joes and Jane's will find in the study of science

a richer, more rewarding life.

Hey, welcome to Inquiring Minds. I'm Andravis Gantus. This is a podcast that explores the space

where science and society collide. We want to find out what's true, what's left to discover,

and why it matters. On previous episodes of this show, we've covered the fact that women

are often underrepresented in medical studies and in research in general.

That's also true when it comes to diagnosing sensory processing disorders, like ADHD, autism, synesthesia.

And that's why Janara Naremberg created the Neurodiversity Project,

which specifically aims to give voice to women who have sensory processing issues,

or, as she likes to put it, neurodivergent minds. I've often thought it's interesting that

voices of women with autism in particular have often provided some of the most poignant

and clear descriptions of what it's like. People like Temple Grandin,

Greta Thurnberg, Donna Williams. And yet so often when it comes to diagnosing these disorders

and children, the focus is on young males. Why is it the case? Are girls harder to diagnose?

Or does society lead them to conform in a way that makes it possible for them to

hide some of their neurodivergencies? And is that a good thing? Because it means it's easier for them to

live in a neurottypically dominated society? Or are we condemning these girls to years and years

of emotional and mental trauma? Janar Nirenberg is the founder of the Neurodiversity Project.

She's also a graduate of the Harvard School of Public Health and UC Berkeley.

In her new book, Divergent Mind, Thriving in a World that Wasn't Designed for You,

she applies her journalistic lens and her own personal experiences to explore the topic of neurodivergent

minds, especially in women.

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