I don’t have a diagnosis, but I score high on AQ test and I do have traits consistent with some aspects of autism.

Yes I was bullied in high school, and I think that will stay with me always although in some ways it gave me a deeper understanding of others suffering/injustices.

My own thoughts are that AS people are often naive about others intentions, and that can make them a target. Yes absolutely it’s been my experience that girls were so much more adept at cruelty, and you’re probably right Azul about competitiveness. I think at least one of my bullies came from an abusive home too. The saddest thing was I just wanted her to like me - and she would use that sometimes by pretending she was my friend only to switch. Even now I remember the pain of just wanting to be liked/fit in, but I never did fit in the mainstream and even now only have a small group of friends.

Can I ask do you ask this question for a reason? I think you wrote your nephew is AS? Is he doing okay?