I read an article in a science mag (in a waiting room) that spoke of a reduction of neural connectivity between different areas of the brain discovered in those with Autism and Aspergers. I speculated that this probably correlates nicely with the tendency for males to far outnumber females affected by each of these. Given the much larger corpus callosum (20-40%, averaging maybe 24%) of the female brain, I proposed that this larger "cable" between the the two halves of the brain would likely be supported by a more robust network of nerves throughout the brain. This would be required to supply the data this additional "bandwidth" would indicate flows between the halves of the female brain.
In females this reduction in inter-area connectivity would obviously not be first indicated by signs of Autism or Aspergers, but in mental and behavioral patterns that would tend to appear more male. Girls and women who find boys and men more suitable friends that other females, that show markedly reduced interest in activities females of their age are attracted to (dolls, fashion, shopping, etc.), and who may tend to be more technical, analytical, mathematical, etc. may indeed be on-the-spectrum, as they say.
Since smart women of all kinds have been with us from the beginning, I would agree that the change in society most responsible for the increase in Autism/Aspergers must be the acceptance and growth in the number of women in technical fields formerly dominated by men. This relative concentration of technically-minded women has caused the greatest increase in the interaction and coupling of of those who before would have either had spouses who had no idea what their mates did-but had dinner on the table at six and constantly fussed about the interior decor, or lived lives of quiet desperation playing bridge and working the Times crossword puzzle in their heads, so as not to disturb their acceptable but plodding husbands-or bosses.
As I have often told my former Managing-Editor wife, some women manage five newspapers, some can look at the contents of your kitchen and list all the meals you can make in order of difficulty, prep time, or how the presented meal will look with your dining room decor. Unfortunately, few can do both.
(We have a son on the spectrum. He is the most intelligent person I know.)