Table 2.

Gendered and cultural dynamics across themes

Theme	Boys	Girls	Cultural factors shaping both
Gatekeeping of recognition	Disruptive behaviors flagged early; boys referred for diagnosis at young ages	Inattentive or organizational struggles overlooked or reframed as lack of effort, leading to delayed diagnosis	Cultural reluctance to “label” children delays recognition; recent increase in awareness, especially for girls
Institutional fit/misfit	Struggled with prolonged Talmud study, rigid schedules, and risk of exclusion	Expected to be naturally organized and self-reliant; struggles seen as personal failings	Educational structures reinforce gendered roles; some schools adopting adaptations (learning in pairs, project-based learning)
Pharmacological compliance vs. personality preservation	Strong pressure to medicate to sustain study loads and classroom discipline	Reluctance to medicate due to fears of “dulling” personality or changing identity	Medication attitudes influenced by cultural values around scholarship, modesty, and family roles
Gendered care work and advocacy	Fathers are more involved in boys’ religious learning and behavior issues	Mothers bear primary responsibility for advocacy, school communication, and therapy	Division of parental roles reflects broader community gender norms; growing maternal peer networks and advocacy