Model and TV personality Christine McGuinness has spoken to the BBC about her adult autism diagnosis and her experience of sexual abuse, highlighting a widespread issue among autistic women and girls.
McGuinness, who was diagnosed with autism in 2021 at age 33, said the diagnosis explained many of her struggles, including difficulties at school and sensory issues. She revealed she was sexually abused from age nine to 11 and raped at 14, describing the trauma as so severe that she prayed not to wake up.
Dr Sarah Lister Brook, clinical director at the National Autistic Society, said a large number of autistic women and girls report experiences of sexual assault, calling it a “serious and deeply concerning issue”. A 2022 French study suggested nearly nine in ten autistic women have been victims of “sexual violence”, with two-thirds first assaulted at a very young age.
Experts point to factors such as social isolation, communication difficulties, and a lack of accessible sex education as reasons autistic women may be more vulnerable. Rosie Creer of the charity Respond noted that autistic girls are often left out of friendship groups, making them more exposed to exploitative relationships.
Christine McGuinness said she always found it hard to make friends and often used “masking” to fit in, which she described as exhausting. Her story is part of a BBC documentary airing on 15 March.
