What stereotypes surround people on the autism spectrum? To what extent does Ginny fulfill or defy such stereotypes?

What stereotypes surround people on the autism spectrum? To what extent does Ginny fulfill or defy such stereotypes?

I think one stereotype is mistakenly thinking of autism as a type of mental deficiency or handicap. However, I have seen autistic teenagers who were excelled in subjects as long as it involved the memorization of facts and did not require well-planned expository writing Autistic children can be clever as well as very sneaky, as most children can be. However, in my experience the autistic children sometimes are more likely to be honest when confronted with a question about their behavior.

One of the stereotypes of Autism is the person’s inability to form attachments and show affection. Clearly Ginny was capable of caring and even empathy - particularly in regard to her “baby doll” and then the new baby. She was concerned for their physical well being, as well as wanting to comfort them when they cried. She also wanted to hold both infants which is counter to the idea that many autistic people do not care to touch or be touched by other people.

Another stereotype is a tendency to be analytical and literal. I thought the author did a great job of illustrating those traits in Ginny. Her "equations" to determine her place in her family and her world made absolute sense to her and to the reader. Math is never a lie. Her refusal to answer a question out loud with an untruth because you TELL lies - perfect!

I agree with kenanr. There are a lot of stereotypes for people with autism and they do not fit every individual. Look at people such as Temple Grandin, and how much she has achieved in her life. I sometimes wonder if her success is because of or in spite of her autism. Ginny seems much more limited than most of the autistic people I have had met, but then there are autistic people who cannot function independently at all.

I have limited experience or knowledge with individuals on the autism spectrum, but I have noted those I have interacted with to be literal minded, black and white in thinking and action. I always felt that I was in the presence of an individual who was "gifted" in some way - a way I may not have yet discovered with regard to him or her.

I agree with all of the answers above. I know people on the autism spectrum who vary so much. One of them does not talk and contributes only by his computer. Another one works and leads a pretty ordinary life.
He is excellent at doing anything on his computer. Ginny's story is the first time I have encountered a woman with autism

There were many stereotypes of autism that describe Ginny. Ginny was not empathetic to others or overly aware of how she made them feel. She also seemed overwhelmed by outside stimuli. Her thought patterns seemed obsessive at times, hyper-focused on small details. I often felt her behavior was more affected by her abuse, however.

Four common stereotypes of ASD are:
1. People with autism are geniuses
2. They have prodigious memories
3. They have no sense of humor
4. Having autism means having every autistic trait (lack of empathy, obsessive behavior, no self-awareness, and extreme competitiveness to name a few)
Ginny was clearly not a genius nor did she have a prodigious memory. I do not remember if Ginny displayed her sense of humor, but I feel safe to say I'm sure she had one but was so stressed out she was not in a humorous mood. She did display empathy for her sister and had obsessive behavior. She had self-awareness, but was still working on that issue. She was competitive but not to the extreme.

The autism spectrum is very large. I think one trait that many autistic people (many, not all) is the ability to form attachments. They often have difficulty with empathy. Ginny was different in that regard. She also has a unique way of reasoning.