What Is Masking?
Or: Defining and Understanding Disability Masking
Image Description: A white theatrical mask with open eyes illuminated under blue light.
Last week I discussed my experiences of masking. Let’s further explore the concept of disability masking in general, the damages that can arise from it, and the reasons behind it.
The Cleveland Clinic published a terrific piece about masking that focuses on Autistic people, but there are many insights about masking that can be gleaned from a broader disability lens.
The article shares an articulate definition of masking and the context behind it:
“Masking is a way of representing yourself to be more like how others expect you to be. It’s a way of hiding yourself (or parts of yourself) that you don’t want to present to the world. Not in a nefarious way. More like a “meeting societal expectations” kind of way.”
For people with disabilities this means hiding what others may deem as “deficiencies” or disability-related limitations, or adjusting themselves to exist within society.
Valid Reasons for Masking
The reasons behind masking include working to avoid judgment, exclusion, or harm from others because of their disability. Such as being rejected for friendships (or interpersonal relationships of any kind), work opportunities, or general social inclusion.
For example:
“If you’re autistic, you may mask your condition by doing things like hiding self-stimulatory behaviors (stims). You may work to purposefully make and maintain eye contact. Or pretend to be interested in the topics or hobbies of other people in the group. You may mask to blend in. Because that’s what society seems to expect. But over the long term, camouflaging can take a real toll.”
In my personal case, I hide my pain, fatigue, and invisible physical limitations to ease others’ fear and discomfort and persuade them that I can be included without them having to change or make much of an effort. I make a huge effort to my inclusion in an often obstructive world.
The Costs of Masking
However, the costs of masking are real and deep:
“Masking can become a way of life. Rather than a tool to get through an uncomfortable situation, masking becomes the norm. And the real you gets pushed down deeper and deeper. Masking is conforming. It’s downplaying the sides of you that are different, powerful and special… Masking can become automatic. Less of a purposeful act and more like a default switch. It can be hard to tell where the mask ends and where the rest of you begins.”
Not only can it become impossible to take off the mask because it has become so automated, but it is exhausting to constantly put on the performance. After a few hours away from the quiet of my home, my energy is wiped out from being on guard and on point. It’s not just being an introvert that costs me, it’s being aware of others, their reaction (or discomfort with) my disability, and my work at hiding how I may be feeling that particular day.
Safe Places to Unmask
Thankfully, there are people and places where I feel safe to express my disability, to be honest about how I am feeling, and to be able to drop the mask from my disability. But they are rare and difficult to find. For example, I never was able to always “bring my full self” to a workplace and feel safe as a disabled person.
Society has a lot more to do for making the world more accepting of disabled people so that they don’t have to constantly mask and withhold their true selves:
“Masking is a tool that can help you navigate a world that doesn’t always feel safe for you. And until society welcomes you — all of you — it’s understandable why you’d keep masking. But it’s important to know that masking can come with a hefty price. One that you shouldn’t have to pay.”
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Insightful as usual