TSM Episode 22: Sexy But Psycho: How the Patriarchy Uses Their Trauma Against Them

Welcome to Episode 22 of Triggers and Spiritual Medicine podcast with host, Laura Bonetzky-Joseph. Join us for amazing podcast episode on the topic of “Sexy But Psycho: How the Patriarchy Uses Their Trauma Against Them” with the incredibly powerful, Dr. Jessica Taylor.

Honestly after interviewing Dr. Jess, I’ve never met someone so akin to my life’s work and what my soul came here to accomplish here as a human.

For those who do not know Dr. Jess … I can’t highly recommend her and her work enough. This episode is life changing.  I rarely rarely rarely endorse anyone for good reasons. So when I do, there’s a good reason and I’d stake my reputation on it.

This talk is deep, direct, and powerful while addressing the elephant in the room, and offering 3 actionable steps folks can do today.

About Dr Jessica Taylor

Dr. Jess Taylor is a leading expert Forensic psychologist who has worked extensively with PD in SA, DV, CSA and sex trafficking cases in the UK.

She is also the Director of Victim Focus, and has authored multiple international best-selling books including:

• “Why Women Are Blamed For Everything”
• “Sexy But Psycho: How the Patriarchy Uses Women’s Trauma Against Them”
• and her latest “The Trauma Impact Manual”.

She has made appearances on British television, including BBC Two documentary “Womanhood”, and in the true crime documentary “My Lover, My Killer”.

Whilst completing her undergraduate degree, she had written to professors and academics to submit her ideas and research proposals on the psychology of victim blaming of women and girls. Academics at University of Birmingham accepted her preliminary literature reviews and research proposals and offered Jessica an opportunity to study a PhD beginning in October 2015, at the age of 25.

During the PhD, Jessica explored emerging perspectives and critical approaches to understanding victim blaming. She also studied advanced psychometric theory and created the BOWSVA Scale (a validated psychometric which has the ability to measure victim blaming attitudes of women subjected to sexual violence and abuse).

It was this specialism which led Jessica to become publicly critical of psychometrics and screening tools being used with teenage girls subjected to sex trafficking and exploitation. In 2016, wrote several articles and speeches about the oppressive use of screening tools and measurements which led to widespread anger and backlash from leading services, academics and authorities. The organization Jessica worked for in senior management was targeted and told to stop her from criticizing the tools. It was this which led her to resign from a position she loved, as she didn’t want to draw negative attention to a charity she was committed to.

Jessica had a vision for an independent organization that could challenge, change and influence millions of people to understand that victim blaming, misogyny and pathologization was embedded into every system in the world, and so in April 2017, she launched VictimFocus.

In September 2018, Jessica was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts for her outstanding contribution to psychology and feminism.

In April 2020, Jessica released ‘Why Women Are Blamed For Everything’ in paperback by self-publishing via Lulu. With no publisher, agent or publicist, the book caused an international conversation and celebrity endorsements resulting in 10,000 copies sold in the first six weeks. With no distribution centre or logistical support, Jessica, Jaimi and Jaimi’s mum, Mandy, fulfilled tens of thousands of international orders from their dining room during the first part of COVID-19 Lockdown.

In March 2022, ‘Sexy But Psycho’ was released and went straight to Sunday Times Best Seller, entering at #5 in the national non-fiction book chart.

RESOURCES:

• Dr Jessica Taylor | Home
• Victim Focus www.victimfocus.org.uk 
• Victim Focus Resources: www.victimfocus-resources.com

ABOUT TRIGGERS & SPIRITUAL MEDICINE:

Real talk. Let’s address the elephant in the room to the growing “sickness” in our society, address root issues and provide sustainable solutions.

We hope by addressing the intersectionality and connect the dots like a web of many of society’s challenges, we can help others understand the trauma infection that impacts all areas of life – addiction, domestic violence, racism, homelessness, sexual abuse, chronic health issues, cancer, environmental issues, climate change and more. In this collaborative program, we hope to share a new perspective of solutions, healing, and resolutions.

Each episode addresses a certain trigger while offering the spiritual medicine with at least 3 tips or actionable steps our listeners can take and implement.

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