Vampires and Autism: What’s the Overlap?

Personally, I don't think it's a wild connection, or even a remotely provocative statement, to say that there is an overlay of characteristics between spooky autistic individuals, such as myself, and vampiric myths, crafted and mystified throughout our media's history - but how? How can this not be an offensive remark, created by a hungry crowd of ableist people, eager to hurl dehumanizing language toward out-spoken autistics like rotten tomatoes and why do some autistics find the comparison to a reclusive, socially elusive, incredibly hot, blood-drinking creature extremely flattering? Well, similarly, like the over-saturation of autistic stereotypes (white men who are cold, robotic geniuses, and white women who are classified as quirky, manic-pixie-dream types), being lumped into a certain shared experience, even when empowering for some, can be dehumanizing for others. Mostly because monolithic thinking tempts the erasure of valid, contradictory moments existing in all of our identities - that is why when I speak about vampires and autism, I mean it not as another sweeping stereotype, but as a fun, harmless comparison to my own general interests (horror, gothic literature, etc) and my own autistic experience. With that disclaimer out of the way, here is where I feel like vampirism gives spooky autistics like me a little kiss on the forehead: 

1. Feared by the entire town:

Listen, I love my alone time. I love a good Friday, Saturday, maybe a whole month where I know I won't see anyone, mostly because social encounters, even if people I love, require an intense amount of energy... however. When I do step out from that bog, when I finally crawled my way out from the sewer, I like to imagine it causes such a parade of emotions, erupting inside everyone I know; fear, rightfully felt, mostly because my face moves like an ancient stone, sealing a secret older than time, but to be also... talked about? To be seen to be worthy of excited gossip, traveling between the mouths of the entire village? Professionally qualified as the town's social enigma? A story to help their children better behave and finish their chores? Now that's drama. The right kind of attention, both vampires and autistics can receive without having to put in the exhaustive effort of living. To not only to be thought about, for just merely existing, but to also be someone's, or even your whole community's, biggest nightmare? Ohh!

2. Safe foods:

Vampires and Autistics love consistency especially when it comes to the texture of food; I sometimes find myself eating the same five foods, routinely at the same meal times, and I won't notice till I become so sick of the taste and the food suddenly becomes repulsive - do I think I could adjust to only drinking blood? Perhaps. Though I doubt there isn't some alternative BeyondBlood (Trademarked) or some sort of seasoning to help me switch it up after a century or two. It just may require some creativity.

3. Repeated clothes (or just dirty ones) is a lifestyle:

90's grunge took notes, and perhaps over-glamorized non-consumerist ideals about clothes to an almost self-indulgent, selling-itself-back-to-the-masses-through-Urban-Outfitters sort of degree, but do you know who mastered the course? Vampires. Do you know who the flouncy, white, blood-stained blouse's favorite classmate is? Autistics. You want us to dress to the nines, just to sit around in our own homes? You got it. You want us to wear a black bustier with matching leather boots for five days in a row because we like the feeling of its squeezing hold? Continue to wear a hooded cloak, we stole off the back of another rider, even though we plundered them weeks ago? You bet. You want us to keep on those white, Rosalie-twilight-style baseball pants even though we spilled mustard on it? I'm already licking it off!

4. A very strong connection with animals:

Is it a coincidence that in recent scientific studies, autistic people's behavior has been said to be "feline-like" while vampires are able to turn into frogs, dogs, wolves, bats, chickens, butterflies, horses, cows, snakes, moonlight, pumpkins, beetles, speed boats, AND CATS? I think not!

5. We are hot:

I have nothing to say to this other than we're hot, vampires are hot. Autistic-coded characters in media usually have the largest sexual followings (not because of fetishization but because we're smokin') and Vampires are usually some of the most desired romantic partners in all monsterdom. Period.

6. Hanging out with others merely for shared interests:

To be honest with you, I find depictions of vampires in the media to be very social! Sure, you have your Louie and Edward types, brooding out of self-pity and despair, choosing to be alone in their stewing pain, but I have found empirically, vampires seem to either have at least one or more mates, a pack of friends to hunt with, or a literal, blood-crazed army. Even the vampires who like to “work alone” (Dracula, Nosferatu, etc.) have familiars, lovers they pine over in white gowns, and invited guests that are confused as to why they were brought to their castles in the first place - the interest in others is there, but the social requirements, similar to autistics, are just centered around common interests rather than polite small-talk. Motivated to be around others who find pleasure in the same things they do!