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A short film following the experiences of two young women’s neurodivergence (Autism and ADHD) and the difficulties they encountered in the education system as they journeyed to understand themselves. This documentary highlights the issues surrounding diagnosis for women and girls in the UK and was created in partnership with the BFI during the BFI documentary residential 2024.

Not So Typical

Ruby: As a kid, I didn't really realise that I thought differently and I felt differently. I just felt like a bit of an outsider at times, and I felt like I didn't fully have control in how I was behaving and how I was feeling as much as other people did.

Eva: I had so many friendship issues in school. Um, primary school and secondary school specifically because I wasn't diagnosed, I ended up calling myself a nomad friend. I would move from group to group. I actually struggled really badly with bullying. That period of my life of just being like, I can't change who I am and you're bullying me for it. I got really upset.

Ruby:  I remember always feeling like I couldn't settle into a group in school. I got bullied quite badly through like year 7 to year 9 and that was all surrounding, like how I was like, and I never really fully understood it. But people were just always like, you're too much like you're too loud. You're too intense. If I didn't do my homework, it was because I was lazy or my attendance was really low because I couldn't be bothered to come into school kind of thing. Whereas there was actually like an issue that was going on that was just completely undetected. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 17 years old. I think when it came to getting my diagnosis, it took quite a long time. There's always waiting lists. I started looking into getting the diagnosis at around 15, and I didn't actually get my formal diagnosis and assessment until I was 17.

Eva: I was diagnosed with autism when I was 16, a month before my 17th birthday. My brother's diagnosis was the spurring point of mine. Girls are diagnosed later than boys, especially with autism and a lot of medical conditions. When they first did the research on the topic, they only did it on white boys. They only use them as their subject, and so their symptoms, in a way, are the ones that they look for.

Ruby:  I actually don't really know how I got through school with it being undetected by teachers, because I think, to be honest, like when I look back, I was quite textbook ADHD. I am someone that can't sit still. I've always been fidgety. There's a lot of issues with concentration. I've just felt very misunderstood at school and feel like when you're not made for the society that we live in, you are isolated within such a massive group of people and it can feel like so detrimental to like your mental health. When I think about it, it makes me feel really sorry for that girl, because at the time I was only like, you know, 14, 15 and when you feel like you don't fit into like society, like society was not built for you, you like, you have no other place to go.

Eva: Primary school. I used to cry in a corner when I was overwhelmed, and it was a corner because no one could come behind me. I was safe, no one could touch me. I was there, but it was a lot of almost loneliness. At secondary school I just hated the noise. It was always really loud and so I liked to sit outside, even if it was raining, because it's not noisy outside.

Ruby: When I actually got my diagnosis. I remember speaking to my mother was being like, it's crazy that that was never suggested to us. I got tested for bipolar, I got tested for all sorts of things, but they never even thought about it.

Eva: I find with a lot of people I've spoken to, they're like, oh, they said I had borderline personality disorder. They said I had bipolar. Um, and they get all these misdiagnoses because everything had been done for men. Why aren't we talking about something that half the population of the world goes through or will go through in their life?

Ruby: I think when it comes to women, there is a lot of issues when it comes to getting diagnosed because women's ADHD can manifest in such a different way. I think because women in general kind of have to put on a facade anyway. We're used to performing. That's constantly what I've been doing my whole life. When I was a child, I was always told I was bossy. So then I think I then internalised that and I was like, I can't be that because people don't like bossy women. So yeah, I definitely tried to be something I wasn't, but then that made it so that I was just struggling inside. Whereas now, like I viewed the world just completely differently after I got my diagnosis.

Eva: My diagnosis did empower me. It kind of gave me a reason, and with a reason I could go about doing the things I wanted to do. It definitely gave me freedom, and I feel like I found empowerment in the freedom.

Ruby: I'm so much healthier with my mind. I'll take up however much space I need.

 

Not So Typical

Video length - 06.03
Published date - Apr 2024
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4
Downloadable resources

Now I Can Breathe – It’s not your fault. You didn’t ask for it. You are not weak. You are strong.

Amina tells the story of how she was sexually harassed over several years by other pupils, and describes the work she is doing now to help teachers put a stop to sexual harassment in their schools.

A film by Adam Tyler

Created in collaboration with the Advocacy Academy

Winner of the Children’s Broadcasting category at the Sandford St Martin Awards 2020.

Winner of the Educational Film Award at the Learning On Screen Awards 2020.

Nominated for the Content for Change Award at the Children’s BAFTAs 2019.

Advice for young people about sexual harassment can be found at the following sites:

Childline

Safeline

Brook

…and teachers can find the government’s guidance about sexual harassment in schools here.

Now I Can Breathe

Video length - 08.55
Published date - Feb 2019
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4
Downloadable resources

Young, British & Muslim: Sarah is a Muslim and loves playing roller derby. She talks about the decisions she has had to make about her clothing; and the attitudes of prospective husbands to her playing a full contact sport.

Courtesy of 4thought.tv

Young, British & Muslim: Sarah

Video length - 01.47
Published date - Jun 2014
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

Housework or Office Work?

Should a woman’s place be at home?

Housework or Office Work?

Video length - 02.07
Published date - Aug 2008
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

A World Without Abortion

Diane Munday, a passionate pro-choice activist, talks through the history of abortion and women’s rights, and why she feels so strongly that abortion must be legal.

A World Without Abortion

Video length - 05.27
Published date - Apr 2008
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4
Downloadable resources

Abortion: A Male Perspective

Jack talks about his girlfriend’s abortion. Having taken precautions which failed, the couple found themselves in a difficult situation and had to decide how they felt about abortion. Jack explains why he believes it should be the woman’s decision, but admits that he would have found it hard not to influence her decision if it had differed from his.

Abortion: A Male Perspective

Video length - 02.52
Published date - Apr 2008
Keystage(s) - 4

Culture and Abortion

Different cultures and religions have very different attitudes towards abortion. This film examines some of the various ideas held on this controversial subject by people from different backgrounds.

Culture and Abortion

Video length - 03.17
Published date - Apr 2008
Keystage(s) - 4

Disappearing Women At Work

What are the obstacles in the way of women who want equal pay and equal working rights? The experts discuss how women can get ahead in business.

Disappearing Women At Work

Video length - 02.49
Published date - Mar 2008
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4
Downloadable resources

90 Years Of Feminism

It’s been ninety years since women won the fight to vote, but they’re still struggling for real sexual equality. What’s been achieved since then, and what’s left to battle for?

90 Years Of Feminism

Video length - 03.36
Published date - Mar 2008
Keystage(s) - 4

Nature Vs Nurture – Feminism

Are there biological reasons for the lack of women in the workplace? Have genes kept them chained to the oven (and the cradle) or is it just the ideologies we live with? Kierra Box, youth worker and feminist, battles it out with a research biochemist for the answer to ‘the baby question’.

Nature Vs Nurture – Feminism

Video length - 03.16
Published date - Mar 2008
Keystage(s) - 3 and 4