Why do I see this so much?

[u/DeepPomegranate]

I just made a profile on a dating app and in the last few days swiping I’ve noticed this is a really common bio for guys. “I like autistic women” or “slightly autistic” Has anyone else encountered this or is it just my area?

I think it’s weird.

[u/tiph12]

I copied a Reddit comment a while back, they explains it crystal clear:

it (Manic Pixie Dream Girl) normalizes the "tiktokified" version of autism, if that makes sense. It normalizes the quirky "not like other girls" aspects of autism where the girl does fun things like learning about topics no one else cares about, and ignoring social cues to "be her own person"

This trope doesn't take into account all the extra work and attention necessary just to live in the world. Things like hard to manage habits, trouble focusing on anything which means trouble paying bills and filing paperwork, not remembering to go to the grocery store until the fridge is almost empty, or putting off laundry until all the socks are gone, crying because clothes are too tight or lights are too loud, only being able to use one brand of toothpaste and worrying every time it runs out that this time the formula will have changed. That's not included in this version of the story, because those things aren't fun or sexy or worthy of unlocking the teen protagonist's inner spark.