I think it depends.

Unmasking for me means becoming more quiet, smiling at people less and generally being less responsive in conversations (nodding, eye contact, laughing at jokes, minimal responses like ‚u-huh‘, ‚right‘, etc.). Generally less ‚warm‘ and ‚accommodating‘. I feel like this is less acceptable for women to do, so I think unmasking in this aspect is more difficult for someone socialised and perceived as a woman. Generally unmasking in moments of overwhelm and overstimulation.

But due to the often positive (albeit superficial) portrayal of the manic pixie dream girl in media, other unmasked behaviours are perceived more positively. Like when I get random bursts of energy, my brain jumps from topic to topic, or I am chaotic. It can be seen as ‚cute‘ and I guess that‘s positive, but has in my case also led to people not taking things I struggle with or me as a person seriously.