Does Marissa Mayer Have Asperger's? What Does It Mean If She Does?

Several recent high profile articles and blog posts have discussed the possibility that the former google executive and current CEO of Yahooo, Marissa Mayer, might have a mild form of autism called asperger's syndrome. This claim has caused a great deal of uproar in recent weeks, with people arguing both sides and debating the impact that asperger's could be having on her job performance. Unfortunately, many people fail to understand what exactly it means for an individual to have asperger's and how this disorder can impact someone's life. Regardless of the truth behind these allegations that Marissa Mayer has asperger's, this could be an important opportunity for a cultural dialogue about mental differences and how we treat those with various disorders.

Evidence The Allegations Might Be True?

1 - Obsessive focus on work - Marissa Mayer is notorious for her obsessive approach towards work. While a person who doesn't have asperger's can also act in an obsessive way, this is a key indicator of asperger's. When combined with other evidence, this is a big part of the effort to form compelling case for her asperger's. 

2 - Reports of poor social skills at work - One of the primary ways in which asperger's will impact someone is by stopping the development of their ability to process social cues. This can cause a great deal of social awkwardness in many individuals and even social anxiety in many cases. There are a number of reports from Google and Yahoo employees that Marissa Mayer has very poor social skills and difficulty picking up on even basic social cues.

3 - A notoriously strange laugh - This is another piece of evidence that some parties have been using to argue in favor of her asperger's. It is fairly common that those afflicted with this disorder will have difficulty smiling and laughing in a way that appears natural. Marissa Mayer has been shown in a number of videos to share this problem.

4 - A strong math background - Those with asperger's are often gifted in areas that involve logical reasoning and numbers. In Marissa Mayer's case, she has degrees in higher mathematics from several different prestigious institutions.

What Does It Mean If She Does Have Asperger's?

One of the most important things that Marissa Mayer having asperger's would prove is that those with autism spectrum disorders can function at incredibly high levels and be very successful. This goes against the cultural stereotype of those with autism or asperger's being low functioning and unable to even care for themselves in many cases. If Marissa Mayer comes forward and admits to having asperger's, it will surely open up the conversation about how mental differences aren't necessarily a bad thing and can even provide fresh perspectives in some cases.

How Are Societies Views Of Autism Changing

Ultimately, we will probably never no for sure if Marissa Mayer has asperger's. It is very unlikely that she will ever get herself tested and a large part of the reason for that is the cultural bias we have against those with any type of mental disorder. How ridiculous this aspect of our culture can be is particularly clear in this situation, where a person's asperger's could actually aid in their professional success yet it is still viewed as something to be embarrassed of. We need to get over these biases if we want to more fully incorporate those with mental differences into our society and fully take advantage of their strengths and talents.

Contact NDFYA If You Are In Need Of Help Dealing With Autism Or Asperger's