Eye Contact

[AuAL]

I don't understand. Punch down? What is the gendered interpretation?

In the illustration you showed, the punching eye was above. “Punching down” refers to the practice of acting against people who are, in some sense, disadvantaged relative to the person acting. For example, in comedy, it is generally understood that it is unacceptable to make jokes about disadvantaged people. The image seemed to depict this.
As for the “gendered interpretation”, the eyelashes of the eye attacked are longer, and the defending hand appears more gracile, suggesting a feminine victim.
Of course, I could be over-analysing things here, a common fault of mine. These were just some impressions that came to mind.

 

[Jumpinbare]

I could only find that fist and that hand to fit my drawings. And sometimes it does seem like the person insisting on eye contact is being an agressor

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I know it was not your intention, but your examples make me very sad.

Well, if it makes a difference, I never felt sad. More frustrated and curious about the phenomenon. I was not diagnosed until I was 52, so by then, I was already beyond that "making friends" and "caring about what people think of me" stage in life. I had already accepted myself. After my diagnosis, I took a "deep dive" into all things "autism" and took courses non-verbal communication. Learning about these things has helped tremendously with the understanding of it all. Some things I could change. Some things I couldn't. As they say, "It is what it is."

 

[DeFunkCat]

Eye contact? I’d rather not but have trained myself to do it to look more normal. Depending on the person it’s usually ok. If im distressd then no eye contact, The distance is Irrelevant to me.

 

[Shamar]

Question for those who struggle with eye contact:

Does it matter how far away people are from you?

For me, eye contact ranges from uncomfortable to panic inducing, depending on the situation. Distance within about 30 feet does not seen to matter.