Search Results

by Dr. Jem Tosh The Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES) has awarded a collaborative article that I contributed to: 'A critical commentary on follow-up studies and 'desistance' theories about transgender and gender non-conforming children' published in the International Journal of Transgender Health (originally named the International Journal of Transgenderism). GIRES is a UK based organisation that works towards improving the lives of trans, nonbinary, and agender people. It is made up of trans and non trans volunteers and members. It provides training, e-learning, and resources for trans folks and those who support them. The article was featured in a special issue of the journal, entitled 'Today's Transgender Youth: Health, Well-Being, and Opportunities for Resilience' edited by Ryan Watson and Jaimie Veale, which has since been published as a book by Routledge. The article came about through discussion amongst a group of researchers concerning the use of a troubling statistic in academic work regarding transgender youth - that over 80% 'desist' as they get older (i.e. they stop being gender nonconforming or de-transition). There are two main issues with this statistic that we wanted to address, (1) the problematic evidence base that led to its circulation, and (2) how the number was being used to discredit or invalidate trans people and their lived experiences of gender. This can lead to numerous other issues, such as being refused medical treatment and being pathologised. In our commentary we wanted to examine the problematic evidence base, showing the weaknesses and limitations of the research that were a cause for concern, and to discuss the implications of continuing to share this particular number in academic and clinical circles on the lives of trans people. We concluded that: “As we progress towards a fuller understanding of children’s gender in all its complexity, it will be important to move beyond longitudinal studies of identity that seek to predict children’s futures, and instead prioritise respect for children’s autonomy in the present. For all the resources devoted to studying these children, we have much more to learn by listening to them.” Full list of authors and award winners: Julia Temple Newhook, Jake Pyne, Kelley Winters, Stephen Feder, Cindy Holmes, Jem Tosh, Mari-Lynne Sinnott, Ally Jamieson, & Sarah Pickett. See the full abstract below: Background: It has been widely suggested that over 80% of transgender children will come to identify as cisgender (i.e., desist) as they mature, with the assumption that for this 80%, the trans identity was a temporary “phase.” This statistic is used as the scientific rationale for discouraging social transition for pre-pubertal children. This article is a critical commentary on the limitations of this research and a caution against using these studies to develop care recommendations for gender-nonconforming children. Methods: A critical review methodology is employed to systematically interpret four frequently-cited studies that sought to document identity outcomes for gender-nonconforming children (often referred to as “desistance” research). Results: Methodological, theoretical, ethical, and interpretive concerns regarding four “desistance” studies are presented. The authors clarify the historical and clinical contexts within which these studies were conducted to deconstruct assumptions in interpretations of the results. The discussion makes distinctions between the specific evidence provided by these studies versus the assumptions that have shaped recommendations for care. The affirmative model is presented as a way to move away from the question of, “How should children's gender identities develop over time?” toward a more useful question: “How should children best be supported as their gender identity develops?” Conclusion: The tethering of childhood gender diversity to the framework of “desistance” or “persistence” has stifled advancements in our understanding of children's gender in all its complexity. These follow-up studies fall short in helping us understand what children need. As work begins on the 8th version of the Standards of Care by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), we call for a more inclusive conceptual framework that takes children's voices seriously. Listening to children's experiences will enable a more comprehensive understanding of the needs of gender-nonconforming children and provide guidance to scientific and lay communities.

by Dr. Jem Tosh (Content warning: Mention of domestic and emotional abuse, neglect, and food insecurity) There is increasing awareness that the current global pandemic of COVID-19 is likely to result in more occurrences of abuse as people are advised to stay at home and a wide variety of support structures close down or become (even) less accessible. This can result in survivors and victims of abuse having to spend more time with their abuser, and in a more isolated way than before. It can also lead to survivors re-engaging with a past abuser as they struggle to find support to get their basic needs met, such as those with chronic illness needing to get groceries or medications, and abusers can be keen to take advantage of this opportunity. Boundaries (particularly no contact boundaries) can be difficult to maintain when you need food or supplies while self isolating or quarantining and have limited options for help. For those who have experienced childhood neglect or food insecurity, this situation can be triggering. It can remind them of the stress and trauma of living without their basic needs being met and what it was like living with constant uncertainty... Another aspect of how COVID-19 can impact on victims and survivors is that it can lead to a variety of circumstances that can be traumatic, re-traumatising, and triggering. Take for instance the current shortages of groceries. Repeated exposure to pictures of empty grocery stores, panic buying, and searching online for hours to find everywhere sold out of what you need can be upsetting. For those who have experienced childhood neglect or food insecurity, this situation can be triggering. It can remind them of the stress and trauma of living without their basic needs being met and what it was like living with constant uncertainty - this is on top of the current stress and uncertainty regarding COVID-19 and our global and societal responses to it. The result can be an increase of distress as survivors manage, not only adapting to a changing society that is staying indoors, going online, and hoarding supplies, but also the additional emotional impact of remembering or reliving those previous traumatic experiences of not having enough of what was needed. They may find that they are craving more food than usual, that their hunger seems insatiable, that they are buying more and more food driven by a fear that no matter how much they have at home, it will not be enough. Chances are, they are tired. This high level of stress and uncertainty takes energy, which is why many therapists have been recommending that this time of self isolation does not need to be a time for self improvement or productiveness. Instead, it can be a time for rest and recovery, as the body needs that too. ...being told by an authority (e.g. politicians, medics, parents, media etc.) that you must stay inside for a certain amount of time and having limits on what you can do and where you can go, can trigger a remembering and reliving of not having autonomy over your actions and choices. For those who have experienced controlling or possessive behaviour such as during childhood within an emotionally abusive context, or a domestic abuse context, being told by an authority (e.g. politicians, medics, parents, media etc.) that you must stay inside for a certain amount of time and having limits on what you can do and where you can go, can trigger a remembering and reliving of not having autonomy over your actions and choices. So, they may feel like they are back in that abusive situation, even if they are not. Suddenly feeling like they are walking on eggshells around a partner, struggling to plan a new routine, finding it hard to adapt or reach out. Their mood could drop, or they could fawn if that has been a coping strategy in the past, i.e. trying to be as likeable as possible in the hope that they will be deemed worthy of love (and avoid violence and abuse) by being as helpful as possible. So, while encouraging those who can to self isolate, stay inside, and keep social distancing, we can also make space for self-soothing and self-caring. Resources Need food or supplies and don't have someone to help you get them delivered? Try reaching out to mutual aid groups in your local area. You can find them by searching online and there are many groups on Facebook. Can't find one? Try setting one up - chances are you are not the only one in need of help and there are many people out there looking to provide assistance where they can. Can't get to your therapy appointment? Try contacting your therapist to see if they are planning on (or would be willing to) temporarily change to an online format. There are a variety of encrypted online platforms that allow for confidentiality when talking online to a professional (such as VSee). If your therapist is not available online (perhaps they need this time to help family members or are unwell), try searching for another therapist who is online to help with support during this stressful time. Cabin fever? Try dividing up your home into different spaces. That bookcase in the corner, that's your new library. The weights on the floor, check out your new private gym. That sketchbook on the table, that's your art class. Add friends and draw together via Skype or Facetime. Need to just spend time in bed or lying down in front of the television for days? Do that. In times of stress, more rest is needed. You don't need to be super productive or starting a new project just because it seems like you have more time now that you don't have to commute. ---> for those currently in abusive situations who need support during self isolation: Vancouver based organisations - Battered Women's Support Services (BWSS): https://www.bwss.org [trans and nonbinary inclusive, see - https://www.bwss.org/support/lgbtq2s/] Ending Violence Association (EVA) of BC: https://endingviolence.org/need-help/ [working towards trans inclusivity, see - https://endingviolence.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/TDR-Statement-1-1.pdf] Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW): https://www.wavaw.ca/get-support/ [Two spirit, trans, nonbinary inclusive: https://www.wavaw.ca/inclusion-project/] Men's Therapy Centre (Vancouver Island): http://www.menstrauma.com/about-mtc/ [Two spirit, trans, and nonbinary inclusive]

by Dr. Jem Tosh I'm currently writing my third book, which focuses on sexual violence in medical contexts. I'm almost finished (yeah!), but I'm still working on chapter five and, in particular, a tricky section on a kind of violence that is very distressing to read or write about. I'm used to this - to reading through personal or professional accounts of sexual abuse, murder, domestic violence and so on. That's my job. I've been doing it for almost 15 years, but that doesn't make it an easy job to do. So here are some of the ways I manage writing about emotive content: 1. Work smarter, not harder This is a motto I constantly remind myself of when I start to panic about upcoming deadlines. The truth is I'm very good at working hard - almost too good. But all that hard work comes at a price. I like to focus on a single task for a really, really long time, and I don't like having to stop or change to something else. I learned (the hard way) that I can accomplish the same amount of work in less time if I just prioritise my self-care. Due to my love of working very long hours, this means keeping to a strict schedule, with timers or alarms if necessary. So I make rules that work best for me, and I stick to them. Taking a break or stopping is actually one of my most productive 'thinking' times. If I have been reading all morning, after my lunch break I know how I want to structure what I've read and how it fits into the big picture of the piece. If I've been writing all morning, I know exactly how I want to edit it. It means I can come back to a piece of writing with 'fresh eyes' everyday. So, overall, the cliché is true - less is more. 2. Watch out for wormholes I like to picture that scene from Donnie Darko, where he sees a wormhole in time protrude from his stomach and he follows it around. I use this word to describe when I find something interesting, something I don't want to let go of, something I would love nothing more than to spend many countless hours reading about it. This is particularly easy to do with emotive content - sometimes we can go looking for some kind of closure, or hoping that if we read to the end of a story the ending will make us feel better. The question I ask myself in this situation is - 'Is this necessary?' If it is, then I might need to rethink my schedule and add in extra time to chase up this important piece of information. If it's not, then I need to recognise it for what it is - a wormhole that will result in me losing a lot of time with little to show for it. 3. Know thyself How do you respond to trauma? How do you respond to vicarious trauma? I have spent years learning (and healing) from my own trauma, so I know how I react very well. I know the different sensations in my body and what they mean, and what I need to do to recover from it. I know when to stop, when to push through - when to confront a difficult emotion, and when to distract and ground myself before attempting to address a memory or thought with support. Sometimes this is a friend, a colleague, or a therapist. Sometimes it's a rape crisis helpline. Once I've taken the time to rest and recover, if I can't write for a while, I'll edit. If I can't do that, I'll go looking for resources and just save them to read later. If I can't do that, I'll format my reference list. It's like having a hierarchy of tasks based on difficulty and I work down the list for something I can do. If I can't do any of it, that's fine too. That's life - that's being human - and a survivor of sexual abuse. If I need to rest, I do. If I need to cancel a project or push a deadline, I do. Break the deadline, not yourself. 4. Music, art, and objects I surround myself with things that help me get through a difficult piece. This includes choosing the right music. If I'm feeling stressed and tense, or even fearful because a piece is reminding me of my own experiences of violence, I will choose relaxing or meditation music. Sometimes it will just be the sound of water, because I find that most relaxing of all. I also have objects and art around me that I find comforting, soothing, safe, and empowering. I particularly like my print from Joanna Thangiah that states 'It's only her fault if she's the rapist'. This is because, personally, I can find it difficult to read through so much content that assumes women are victims and men are rapists and that's it - I've had multiple women abusers, so reading this content feels like a twist of the knife every time. This pain from being erased from the conversation around sexual violence is helped by surrounding myself with artistic and activist work that makes me feel heard and supported. I also have soft objects around me, like soft blankets and cushions. These are things that I can wrap myself up with or hold when I'm reading or writing a piece that has me feeling unsafe or in pain. Again, this isn't to help me 'push through' a writing goal that harms me, but to support me in areas where it's starting to get difficult. If it gets too difficult, I stop, seek support, and take as many breaks as I need. 5. Know what works In addition to recognising the signs that I'm starting to feel overwhelmed by the emotive content I'm writing about, I know what works with distracting and soothing those feelings. I distract first (based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy - DBT), such as reading fiction, watching Netflix, or listening to music. I have collections set aside for these very moments - they have been checked in advance to make sure there is no triggering content. They feel soothing to watch, either because I've been watching them since I was young, or they have a lighthearted feel. For music, I pick songs with lyrics that will make me feel better, not worse (not an easy task if you're a feminist and a heavy metal fan). Then I soothe - for this I tend to use meditation, anywhere from 20 to 90 minutes at a time. I use guided visualisations often, and I go to trauma-informed restorative yoga when I can. My local yoga centre has taken steps to ensure that the space is welcoming and safe for survivors, including having explicit discussions about consent and touching when being helped by instructors. Or sometimes I just sleep. 6. Checking in Because I can enjoy my work too much and forget that I need I do things - like move around or drink water - I regularly 'check in' with myself. I stop and do a body scan based on mindfulness techniques to see, am I tired? Do I need to get up and walk around? Do I need to stop because this is too upsetting? Do I need to eat something? When was the last time I went outside? If you're reading or writing about something highly emotive, try every hour or so just asking yourself, how are you doing right now? 7. Going freelance I am aware that some of these strategies will not be available to all - especially things like taking lots of breaks and pushing deadlines. Academia (and many other work contexts) are not welcoming to people with chronic illness, disabilities, or neurodiversity. So, one of the other 'strategies' I found helpful, was finding a work environment that did support my needs and could be flexible enough for me to find that 'sweet spot' - where I work best and produce my best work. At this point in time, it meant creating that space for myself - and going freelance.

by Dr. Jem Tosh I'm no stranger to the topic of sexual abuse or the controversy and conflict that goes with writing about it. Having outlined the complex and contested diagnosis of 'paraphilic coercive disorder' in my historical and critical analysis of sexual violence in Perverse Psychology (Tosh, 2015), I'm soon to finish my new book on the body, consent, and violence within psychology, psychiatry, and medicine. It is broad in scope and draws together diverse and expansive topics in a discursive and intersectional analysis. Below I talk about where the idea came from and what readers can expect from this new work. How I come up with my ideas: I have an unusual habit where as soon as one book is finished, I get an idea for the next. After I finished Psychology and Gender Dysphoria, despite being exhausted, on the same day I wrote my proposal for The Body and Consent in Psychology, Psychiatry, and Medicine: A Therapeutic Rape Culture. It just came to me and it was incredibly clear. I needed to put it down on paper right there and then. That tends to be how my process works. Writing a book about an emotive topic: This is probably the most difficult piece of writing I have done in my career, for many reasons. I have spent much of my research and writing discussing difficult and emotive topics, most of it on sexual violence, but this book was more difficult because in addition to the violence described, there was the added aspect of the medical profession, and psychology and psychiatry, justifying or normalising it or discrediting victims in various ways. So, it was like having to immerse yourself in this double victimisation. It is also always very difficult for me to write, despite how much I love writing, because I'm a survivor of sexual abuse myself. I'm well aware of the topics I am writing about, not just because of my education and research, but because I have physically experienced it too. I think that was one of the reasons that I felt it was so important to include an analysis of the issue with the embodied experience front and centre of a predominantly discursive piece. It is also always very difficult for me to write, despite how much I love writing, because I'm a survivor of sexual abuse myself. I'm well aware of the topics I am writing about, not just because of my education and research, but because I have physically experienced it too. Why this book and why now: I spent several years analysing different diagnoses related to sexual abuse, as well as the experiences of queer and trans individuals and sexual violence. The more I researched, and the more perspectives I included, the more connections and patterns I started to see across those diverse examples. I wanted to bring them together in one book, so that we could see the connections between, say intersex protests against non-consensual surgeries on infants, the gatekeeping of transgender individuals in accessing body modification procedures, and women pathologized for supposedly being 'too' sexual or 'not sexual enough' - and the context and situations that put these individuals at risk of violence or abuse due to the common issues of pathologization, medicalization, patriarchy, and medical authority. As a queer and genderfluid survivor, who has been assaulted by men and women, I have often found writing on the topic of sexual abuse very binary and heteronormative. What I'm most proud of: The scope of the book. It is always difficult as an author to decide what makes the last cut - I'm always way over my word limit and it breaks my heart to choose what stays and what has to wait until the next publication. It's about finding that balance between breadth and depth in an analysis. I'm proud of the scope of this book in terms of gender, in that I have discussed experiences of sexual abuse in medical settings with chapters about intersex individuals, transgender and nonbinary people, as well as cisgender men and women. As a queer and genderfluid survivor, who has been assaulted by men and women, I have often found writing on the topic of sexual abuse very binary and heteronormative. It was helpful, and in a way cathartic, to be able to bring these other experiences to the forefront of the discussion. The Body and Consent in Psychology, Psychiatry, and Medicine: A Therapeutic Rape Culture is available to buy now. Use promo code FLY21 for 20% discount when buying from routledge.com Blurb This groundbreaking text interrogates the constructed boundary between therapy and violence, by examining therapeutic practice and discourse through the lens of a psychologist and a survivor of sexual abuse. It asks, what happens when those we approach for help cause further harm? Can we identify coercive practices and stop sexual abuse in psychology, psychiatry, and medicine? Tosh explores these questions and more to illustrate that many of the therapies considered fundamental to clinical practice are deeply problematic when issues of consent and sexual abuse are considered. The book examines a range of situations where medical power and authority produces a context where the refusals and non-consent of oppressed groups are denied, dismissed, or ignored, arguing that key concepts and discourses have resulted in the production and standardisation of a therapeutic rape culture in the helping professions. Tosh uses critical intersectionality theory and discourse analysis to expertly highlight the complex interrelationships between race, class, gender, sexuality, and disability in our understanding of abuse and how we define survivors. Drawing on a wide range of comprehensive examples, including experiences and perspectives from cisgender and transgender men and women, as well as nonbinary and intersex people, this is essential reading for students and researchers of critical and queer psychology, gender studies, as well as mental health practitioners and social workers. Contents Introduction Intersex youth: Non-consensual surgeries and nosocomial sexual abuse Queer and trans youth: ‘Sexual rehearsal play’ and reparative therapies ‘Sex’ as treatment: Consent, coercion, and sex therapy Penetration as ‘treatment’: Pathologizing sexual avoidance and pain Phallometrics: Quantifying sexual violence and sexuality Conclusions: a therapeutic rape culture Biography Dr. Jem Tosh is a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society and a Full Member of the Canadian Psychological Association. They are the Founding Director of Psygentra, an organisation that specialises in the psychology of gender and trauma. Jem is also the author of Perverse Psychology (2014) and Psychology and Gender Dysphoria: Feminist and Transgender Perspectives (2016). Reviews "Tosh offers a liberating way forward to those who refuse to be pathologised..." - Dan Oudshoorn

by Dr. Jem Tosh (Content warning: Discussion of s*xual abuse in professional settings) While the #metoo movement has received a wide range of coverage in relation to well-known figures from Hollywood to politics, there is a similar movement within academia and psychology - from accusations of sexual harassment and abuse regarding Professors abusing colleagues and students, to discussions of sexual abuse of patients and clients by therapists and doctors. There is also increasing recognition that this is not an 'us/them' binary - many therapists and psychologists are survivors themselves. A new collection due to be published by Deborah A. Lee and Emma Palmer in 2019 examines this issue - of therapists, counsellors, and psychologists who manage both their work in a profession that has a problematic history in its approach to sexual violence, and their positions in it as survivors of sexual abuse. The editors stated that they wanted "to make a rich and nuanced contribution to #MeToo, a significant political intervention for psychotherapists and counsellors, qualified and in-training", and it is a timely intervention. The book includes my piece on my own experiences of childhood sexual abuse and how growing up in Northern Ireland as a queer and genderfluid survivor impacted on my career, titled, "Sexual Abuse and Surviving with(in) Psychology." #MeToo: Survivors of Sexual Violence as Counsellors and Psychotherapists will be available from PCCS Books in 2019.

by Dr. Jem Tosh Trauma can impact on us in many different ways - from numbness to hypervigilence. Sometimes the best way to deal with the day-to-day tiredness that can result from living with trauma is to get away from it all. Finding quiet spaces in busy cities to distract yourself, calm your body, or feel safe can be helpful short breaks that promote self-care and long-term healing. These places will be different for everyone, some may find loud and busy places great for distraction and others may find them overstimulating. Here are my top five places to go in Vancouver when I am feeling overwhelmed. 1. Third Beach, Stanley Park This is a great spot, especially on a rainy day. It's quieter than the beaches closer to downtown with the beautiful park behind you, the water lapping on the beach in front of you, views of North Vancouver to your right, and you can lie down and count the sea planes passing overhead. Whenever I'm doing a guided meditation or visualization, at some point I'm guaranteed to be imagining myself at third beach. Very close to the city but just far enough away to distance yourself from the busy-ness of your day-to-day life and a great spot for some mindfulness exercises with plenty of beautiful sounds and views to focus on. 2. Walking on the sea wall It doesn't really matter whether it's walking around Yaletown, Stanley Park, or North Vancouver - each have stunning views and are right by the water (something I always find relaxing). My favourite part of these walks though, especially from a mindfulness perspective, is listening to the short snippets of conversation you hear from passers by. It's a great insight into people's lives and the diversity of the city and can provide a brief distraction from your own thoughts. 3. Beaver Lake, Stanley Park While just about anywhere in Stanley Park could be a relaxing escape, there's something about Beaver Lake that appeals to me more. It might be how the plant life changes so dramatically around the year and the change of the seasons (seeing the water lilies is an explosion of colour) or the fact that you can people-watch, bird-watch, and even turtle-watch until your heart's content. 4. MacLeod's Books While sci-fi fans will know that this place is where Peter Bishop from Fringe goes for his much needed info to solve a case, MacLeod's Books is a treat for book lovers and those who like somewhere quiet but aren't too keen on wide open spaces. Books are piled high and spending time reading the titles as you weave through the narrow corridors of free space can be a great distraction in a peaceful and quiet setting. 5. Ride the Aquabus Especially after summer, when the crowds are quieter and the weather is a little cooler, getting a ride on the Aquabus can be a brief break if water is something that soothes you. The rocking motion and the sound of the water can make for a great meditation or mindfulness activity. If you need a little more comfort and self-care for the day, you can extend your journey or get off one of the stops near a park and spend a little more time in nature, or even take a walk around one of the museums in Vanier Park.

In an exciting new opportunity, Psygentra is collaborating with Leeds Beckett University on a funded Masters of Research that has been designed by Psygentra Director Dr. Lucy Thompson, and Dr. Katy Day. The research titled, 'The Personal is Structural': A Feminist Psychological Exploration of Sexual Violence in British Universities, will address the ongoing issue of sexual violence in higher education institutions in the UK, and the experiences of those who report this. Based on our expertise in the areas of feminist and organizational psychology, this research will bring the voices of survivors to the forefront of knowledge in the field, and make this central to the project of institutional transformation. The problem of sexual violence in higher education hinges on the abuse of power by those in privileged and trusted positions, which is permitted by a culture of secrecy where sexual violence is viewed as ‘bad press’ for universities doing business in an increasingly corporatized education marketplace. In this marketplace, bad press is bad for business and institutional reputation comes to be prioritized over survivors in order to protect the university’s corporate brand. As a consequence of this institutional collaboration with capitalism, those who experience sexual violence are rendered relatively powerless against perpetrators who take advantage of their ‘untouchable’ position in this organizational culture. Not only does this culture silence people who experience sexual violence; it also fails to acknowledge how sexual assault is institutionally structured in ways that leave perpetrators unaccountable. Using qualitative methods, our research project will map the personal and structural dimensions of sexual violence in organizations with analysis of institutional discourses, survivor stories, and organizational responses to sexual violence. Here, survivors will be heard as experts of their own experiences, and their voices will lead calls for social change in higher education. As part of our commitment to anti-oppressive work, this project inherently carries a feminist social justice agenda against gendered sexual violence, which views gendered violence as both an individual and collective experience that warrants an individual and collective response. The research methods will necessarily reflect this, employing feminist analysis to prioritize the stories of survivors while recognizing the socio-political conditions under which they are told. Here, voices will be understood as situated within power structures, and these power structures will be brought into question. The project information is as follows: “In recent times, the problem of sexual harassment and sexual violence in higher education has been highlighted in both the UK and US. However, often, the focus has been placed upon so called ‘lad culture’ on university campuses and on male students as perpetrators. Yet experts have described “epidemic levels of sexual harassment, misconduct and gender violence by staff at British universities” (The Guardian, 6th March, 2017). In addition, such organisations have been accused of paying ‘lip service’ to this issue rather than really tackling it head on. Although there is a wealth of research on sexual harassment in organisational settings, much of this focuses on individuals without taking into account the structural context in which they are situated. Additionally, while feminist psychological work has mapped the discursive negotiation of workplace harassment, there is a lack of work on sexual violence and sexual assault in the workplace. This not only leaves sexual assault in organisations such as universities unspeakable, but also screens out the voices of those who have survived sexual violence in their everyday lives. Consequently, there is also a general lack of research on reporting sexual assault in organisations, which tends to be reserved for research on engagement with the police. Therefore, more research is needed on how sexual assault and reporting processes are negotiated within organisational contexts other than the police. In addition, while it is recognised in feminist work that "the personal is structural" (Ahmed, 2017) within institutional settings, there has been very little work to capture this interplay in relation to sexual assault in organisations. Indeed, the voices of survivors tend to be marginal in previous work. This research will adopt a qualitative, feminist psychological approach in order to explore experiences of sexual violence in UK universities. It is anticipated that the research project will involve gathering anonymous qualitative online data from staff and students at UK universities who are women* and who have had experiences of sexual harassment and violence. The resultant data will be analysed using Feminist Relational Discourse Analysis. The research will also explore experiences of institutional responses in cases where these have been reported in order to shed light on the institutional structuring of sexual assault, and how this mediates and is mediated by the experiences of those situated in/by/through these contexts. By magnifying the voices of survivors, this research will map the personal-structural dimensions of sexual violence in organisations, and make survivor-centred recommendations for organisational transformation.” We invite applicants who believe in our values and have prior experience in this area. Details about the research and application process can be found here. Please contact Dr. Lucy Thompson with any queries. *This project is trans-inclusive. Trans women are women. Psygentra stands against all forms of transphobia.

by Dr. Jem Tosh (Content warning: Discussion of workplace bullying, including personal disclosures) This is probably the only question from a course that has stuck with me for over a decade. I remember sitting in a circle, having that typical conversation at the beginning of a new training session - 'what do you want to get out of this experience? What would you like to learn?' The teacher talked to me a little about what I hoped to get out of the next three days, and then they responded with that question, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful if you failed?' Of course, my answer was one of laughter and 'hell no!' I was already an expert perfectionist and long-term overachiever even then. The thought of failure was akin to the apocalypse in my mind. I knew the point he was trying to make though, I'd heard it before from various sources, how slowing down can make you more productive, how being productive isn't all there is to be, and the personal (and professional) benefits that can come from not putting so much pressure on yourself to achieve. I had heard it all before, and I knew on some level it made sense, but I didn't believe it. The thought of failure was akin to the apocalypse in my mind. Enter academia. I love meeting people from other professions, because it reminds me just how weird academia is. It brings together people who have dedicated much of their lives to being experts in a wide range of topics and issues and then convinces them that they aren't good enough and that their knowledge is next to worthless. Expected to work many hours above full time, and unpaid, lecturers, instructors, part-time and temporary contracts leave academics of any stature with imposter syndrome and feelings of inadequacy. When those outside of the profession hear about your accomplishments it can be surprising (and feel a little odd) to see how they react when they find out that you have published something (anything!) or that you successfully brought in a large amount of money for a research project for your department. It can feel odd because usually those tasks are expected - and they are expected to be constant. It's not enough to publish, you must be constantly publishing, it's not enough to win a grant, you have to keep winning them. The need to achieve is never ending in academia, you need to constantly prove your worth. It's perfect for those who embrace perfectionism, over-achieving, and workaholism - but the big winner will always be the university. The personal costs of chronic stress, job insecurity, long hours, competitive work environments etc. can be extensive. Less family time, nights spent lying awake thinking about deadlines, being unable to stop thinking about work at all, stressed relationships and more. If over-working can be so destructive, can under-working be constructive? I'm going to share one of my biggest failures with you. I'm sharing it because I view it as kind of awesome (does that mean it's not a failure?) and I want to live in a working world where failure, mistakes, and letting people down are part of the 'norm' and not seen as dire or taboo. How else can we learn and do better if we can't openly acknowledge when things went wrong? In one of my jobs I was bullied. I wish this was a shocking statement where people sent me flowers and ice cream and sent me kind thoughts and well-wishing messages - but the truth is it's not uncommon, particularly in academia. Violence, abuse, harassment, and bullying are frequently reported and documented by faculty and students alike. The first person I confided in about the abuse simply said, 'That's what academia is. That's the job.' How else can we learn and do better if we can't openly acknowledge when things went wrong? I tried as hard as I could to keep up with all of my commitments - marking, teaching, research, writing, grants, supervision, supporting students and so on. I believed that if I just kept going, proving that I was 'good enough', the abuse would stop. It didn't, and the more I did, the worse things got. I felt stuck and trapped - that if I left or took a moment for myself, all the projects I was leading would collapse without me. The vast amount of work piled upon me had me believing that I was an essential cog in the university machine. It's a handy crutch when you feel inadequate - 'look at all the work I have, I must be really good at what I do'. But at the same time, taking on too much sets us up to fail. Something has to break under all that weight, and let's face it, it's usually us. I did break. I was required (by doctor's orders) to take time off work. I was terrified - how could I let people down? How could I fail to deliver on time the projects I had promised? Isn't it selfish to put my needs before others? These are the wrong questions to ask - it individualizes the culture of the working environment, it blames the person who burnt out instead of looking at why they burnt out in the first place. It allows abusive working practices and violence to continue with only a high turnover of staff as evidence of a greater systemic problem. Putting your needs, and your health, first makes the statement that you deserve better. This will be better for your self esteem in the long run than any grant or publication. Walking away was wonderful - failing was wonderful. There's no better experience to learn that the world won't crumble without you. People have a lovely way of adapting, changing, and making things work in your absence. The university existed before you, and it will exist after. If you fail to finish that paper, to submit that grant, or to win the approval of your colleagues and superiors - it's okay and the world won't fall apart. It's perhaps a depressing thought to think of how insignificant we truly are - but at the same time, isn't it deliciously liberating? Resources What Did Dignity at Work Training Teach Me? Bullying Isn't My University's Problem - Anonymous Academic In Our Own Words: Institutional Betrayals - Inside Higher Ed Academic Bullying is Too Often Ignored: Here Are Some Targets' Stories - Science The Caring Professions, Not So Caring? Bullying and Emotional Distress in the Academy - Dr. Jem Tosh and Sarah Golightley Understanding Institutional Trauma - Dr. Lucy Thompson

by Dr. Jem Tosh I'm currently avoiding my big writing task for the day by chatting to my friends on Facebook about the difficulty of writing. It got me thinking about some of the ways I manage this love/hate relationship - so here are some of the things I do when I feel like throwing my computer out of the window. 1. Sleep I do my best thinking when I'm asleep. I don't really know what happens during that time, because if my dreams are anything to go by, it shouldn't make any sense. (I actually once dreamed that I was a time-traveling duck that transported through dimensions by going into canals). All I know is, my best time for reading and thinking about a paper/book/project is at the end of the day. When I'm at that point where I feel like I'm starting to figure out what I want to do, but I can't put it on paper - I need to sleep. Every book proposal or new research idea I have had, was written in the early hours of the morning. I woke up with a jump and had the clearest vision of what I had spent all day trying to do. Got writer's block? Go to sleep. 2. Heavy metal Tired of thinking too much? Can't tell whether you're having a useful internal dialogue or you're rambling about nothing like a Trump campaign speech? Blast some music - loud. Tune out for a while and stop thinking. Give yourself a break and come back to it. Jump around too - you've probably been sitting staring at a screen for hours as it is. Bonus points if you freak out your neighbours. 3. Yoga Get upside down. Get your blood flowing and move. I'm not very good at yoga, in fact I'd probably have a pretty popular insta account of my hilariously bad and uncoordinated poses, but I try. Maybe I'll get better at it, maybe I won't, but I'm moving and thinking about something other than my project and that always helps. 4. Go outside It might sound counter productive, but if you're struggling to write something - get up and walk away from the computer. Go outside and remember that there is a whole world outside and your project/paper/book is only one small part of it. You'll be amazed at the inspiration you can get from a random and unfamiliar walk, or a spontaneous conversation with a stranger. 5. Meditate Worried about the deadline that flew past you like a week ago? Spent more time calculating how many words you need to write in how many days/hours than actual writing? Stressing about your writing is only going to slow you down and fill you with self doubt. F*ck that. Meditate in whatever way works for you - do a body scan, listen to a guided visualization, or just breathe. Come back to the writing when you feel calmer and the task no longer seems overwhelming. If it is just a hugely overwhelming task - then redefine it. Can you make it shorter? Extend the deadline? Or - here goes - do it less well? Yeah, try not being a perfectionist and just submit the damn thing. What's the worst that can happen? It could get rejected? Big deal, that happens to all of us 80% of the time anyway... 6. Just write My final way of dealing with writing struggles - is just write. No punctuation, no breaks, no correcting errors or typos - write the worst, rambling, non-sensical, most embarrassing thing you've ever written. Get it on the page. Then take a break, and come back to it and edit it until it's something you like. Lots of badly written words are easier to cut down and edit into a paper, than a blank page staring into your writer's soul.

by Dr. Jem Tosh (Content warning: Discussion of su*cide, mention of r*pe, abuse, rac*sm, and h*mophobia) Another day and another '97% of people won't share this!' or 'copy and share if you agree!' - status update on Facebook that does about as much good for 'creating awareness' as Donald Trump does for social cohesion and world peace. While these kind of posts are shared for many, many topics, from saving the bees to breast cancer, none irritates me more than those for 'suicide awareness'. What annoys me most about this brief, well-intentioned, invitation to talk, is that it simultaneously shows a desire to help those who struggle with suicide, as well as a lack of understanding of what living with suicidal thoughts is actually like for many people. If only preventing suicide was as simple as having a conversation with someone who shared a generic statement to everyone. If only this mass (re)produced comment could convey all the comfort, care, and support that could drag you from the bottom of that pit of despair. To think that a Facebook status, that isn't even personal to the individual in question, would be enough to counter the enormously heavy weight that crushes the chest with excruciating pain, loneliness, fear, rage, and hopelessness, is absurd. Copying and pasting posts like this dramatically underestimates the pain involved in suicidal thoughts and attempts, as well as overestimating your ability to solve the problem with a single conversation. It also guilts people into sharing, because if you don't, like how mean are you for not caring? It requests that the person who is contemplating suicide contact you - 'I'm always here to talk!' - like Dr. Frasier Crane in Seattle, just listening and waiting for a caller. How realistic is that? Have you ever sent out a mass email that urgently needed someone to do something, or to care about something as much as you do? How many people got back to you? It's a message in a bottle floating around in a polluted ocean. Copying and pasting posts like this dramatically underestimates the pain involved in suicidal thoughts and attempts, as well as overestimating your ability to solve the problem with a single conversation. To think that someone at their brink would have the enormous strength required to go to someone and disclose something that is not only stigmatized (i.e. as a symptom of 'mental illness'), but widely condemned in numerous ways (i.e. as a 'sin', or 'selfish'), is living in a make-believe world where we can make fascism disappear by coming together and giving Trump a chance. The chances that a suicidal person will walk up to you and say that they are suicidal, is as likely as a rape victim telling you they have been raped (and we know how rare it is for people to disclose - and that these two issues are anything but separate). It's a very, very difficult thing to acknowledge, let alone verbalize. Statuses like this also ignore the fact that people who are suffering great emotional pain, who are thinking about suicide, have been talking to you. They are saying - 'I'm in pain', 'I'm scared', 'I'm hurt,' or 'I'm being abused', 'I can't cope', 'I'm depressed', 'He hurt me,' 'No one cares.' They are also saying - 'Stop killing us,' 'This is sexist!' 'I can't bear to see another mass shooting of people like me,' 'I just want to be accepted,' 'I just want to be myself,' 'Why didn't my family accept me?' - because we also know that multiple forms of oppression and discrimination lead to an increased risk of violence and abuse, and a higher need for self-care as social action, campaigning, and challenging oppressive systems is physically and emotionally exhausting. Statuses like this also ignore the fact that people who are suffering great emotional pain, who are thinking about suicide, have been talking to you. More likely, though, than saying it, you'll see it. It'll get quieter. They'll go out less. They'll stop eating. Maybe there will be bruises and scars. Red and puffy eyes from nights spent crying. The truth is, many suicide attempts are linked, not to a lack of conversation, but of too much attention from harmful and abusive sources. Everything becomes too difficult and isolation can feel like a temporary peace - as pretending to be 'okay' in front of other people can be just as painful. But why pretend? Because people don't respond well when you start talking about the abuse you are currently going through, or went through years ago. They don't like it when you say you are suffering because of white supremacy or patriarchy. That these systems impact their daily life with a painful emotional cost. It makes you feel powerless, sad, and maybe even a little guilty. So, when it comes up, you say generic things like 'it'll get better', or detract from it by turning your attention to other issues like, 'it could be worse!' and 'all lives matter'. So, seeing a status that says 'someone is always listening' is an insult to those who struggle with suicidal thoughts - because it's not true. As someone who tells friends, partners, teachers, colleagues, and is rebutted time and time again - telling them that all they had to do to save their life was talk to someone, is a harsh slap in the face of a world that likes to say they care but doesn't want to put in the work. If you want to prevent a friend or loved one, or even a stranger, from thinking about ending their life - then protect them from violence and abuse, believe them when they say that someone is hurting them, stop saying or laughing at jokes about homophobia, racism, rape, or xenophobia - and make your space and yourself a beacon for a caring and sympathetic ear that cares not only when they're at the brink, but long before it ever gets to that point. The truth is, many suicide attempts are linked, not to a lack of conversation, but of too much attention from harmful and abusive sources. If you want to show someone that you really care about them, and their pain, don't monitor their actions for some kind of definitive signal of when to intervene - and don't copy and paste a generic statement. It might make may you feel better, but for those who think about ending their life, it can be a trigger of a painful fact - 'no one listened when I talked'. No one wanted to hear or acknowledge my pain. We know why - we know you're not bad people - it's really hard to hear the pain that people are in, or the violence that we know exists in this world. It's even harder to hear it when it comes from someone you care about. But reach out, listen, love, and if you can't handle what they are telling you, help them access other support. Go with them to a group, or sit with them and look through websites for information. Ask them how therapy went if they choose to get support that way. This kind of ongoing love and support is even more important now in a time of rising fascism and a growing acceptance of hatred on a mass scale for everyone who isn't a white, cisgender, heterosexual, man. If you have or promote your views that exclude people (such as being against same-sex marriage, believe that women lie about being abused by a partner, or think that racism towards white people is a real thing etc.), then be the change you want to see in the world - and change yourself. Because this isn't just a personal opinion, or a campaign strategy, you're talking about people's lives and their right to exist. It's not up for debate. ...telling them that all they had to do to save their life was talk to someone, is a harsh slap in the face of a world that likes to say they care but doesn't want to put in the work. If you stay silent in situations of injustice, then speak up - each time you do, someone who is suffering will feel a little better, and a little less alone. Instead of hiding their statuses, or playing the redundant role of 'Devil's advocate', prevent further emotional pain (and yes suicide) by listening and supporting people who are suffering now. We've already had the situation of people running around shouting, 'How has this happened?! What can we do?' after Trump was elected, and marginalized groups eye-rolling because they've been saying this was happening for years. Don't let the same situation happen in the lives of the people you care about. Don't wait until the last minute of the game to start asking, 'how did this happen, and how can I stop it?'

by Dr. Jem Tosh (Content warning: Discussion of trauma and s*xual abuse) As a qualitative researcher I spend most of my time thinking about language (and sometimes images). I write, present, teach, and talk (a lot) - language is central to my work and my life. The very definition of sexual violence (or 'definitions', I should say) has taken up most of my academic career over the past ten years. I have studied how psychology has defined it, how popular culture represents it, how legal discourse in different countries explains (and explains away) a sex crime, a victim, and a perpetrator. We also know the hugely important role of silence in sexual abuse. Whether it's the abuser telling the child to keep a 'secret', or the threats of further violence if the victim ever tells anyone, or the shame and self-blame that results from living in a rape culture that leaves victims terrified to tell anyone, even when no explicit threat is made. Talking about the experience can be helpful, it can begin a process of naming and exploration to help understand what has happened, as sexual abuse can be more confusing than you might expect. Saying the words, 'I was raped' or verbally stating that you are a victim or a survivor (or even a warrior) is a powerful moment of reclaiming your experience, your truth, and your voice. But it can be incredibly difficult, especially if there are few people you can trust enough to tell, or even those you do trust may let you down by responding unhelpfully (e.g. 'are you sure?', 'maybe you just misinterpreted it?', 'maybe you will be more careful from now on' etc.). Talking about the experience can be helpful, it can begin a process of naming and exploration to help understand what has happened, as sexual abuse can be more confusing than you might expect. Talking therapies, with the right therapist, can be very helpful. It can give you a non-judgemental space to explore and understand your experience over time. (Beware, though of those that victim-blame or pathologize. If your therapist starts focusing on 'risk taking behaviours' and analysing you - it might feel helpful at first, but this advice goes against the vast majority of research on rape, and ultimately can make you feel responsible for the violence, rather than the abuser). More and more I hear that talking therapies aren't enough - and they're not. Just like those gender theorists, who argue that gender is 'just' a social construct that we can change at will underestimate the powerful and important role of embodied gender identity (whether cisgender, genderfluid, or transgender), so too can talking therapies fail to address trauma that is non-verbal. When a memory is traumatic it can change the way that event is remembered - such as through images and emotions rather than with language. So, if you're a survivor and you have been talking about your experience for a while, other approaches may also be helpful to you. For example, EMDR therapy - which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing - sounds really weird and way too good to be true, but it's not. What does rape have to do with how your eyes move? Nothing, really, but your memories do. EMDR is a method of accessing a traumatic memory and reprocessing how it was stored. When a memory is traumatic it can change the way that event is remembered - such as through images and emotions rather than with language. This can lead to fragments of a memory being remembered in a way that is disconnected, deeply frightening, and cannot be reasoned with. For example, I recently had a flashback while swimming in a public swimming pool. I have been swimming for years with no problems - so I was very confused as to why all of sudden I was terrified of the water. It took me some time to figure out - but an unexpected class coming into the pool triggered a memory. This memory didn't come to mind at the time, just a non-verbal sense of panic that flooded my body and no amount of talking could calm it down. EMDR therapy allows you to remember that scary moment without triggering a flashback, you can think it through, express your feelings at the time, and reprocess it (by looking at a light or finger that moves from side to side). Over time, the memory becomes like watching a movie, something bad that happened a long time ago that doesn't scare you (as much) any more. What about the body? Verbalizing and acknowledging the violence is one thing, and revisiting memories and healing the emotions that flooded you with fear, contributing to nightmares and flashbacks is another - but what about aches and pains, body numbness, and somatic issues that result from sexual trauma? Even hypervigilance and an inability to relax, or chronic fatigue can be a result of a traumatized nervous system. ...what about aches and pains, body numbness, and somatic issues that result from sexual trauma? For some victims the pain of abuse can lead to dissociation and numbing - a numbing of both the emotions that resulted from the event (talking therapies and EMDR can help access these) and the body. When areas that were hurt are constantly sending signals to the brain in their overactive state, the brain can shut them off for the purposes of survival. Over time, when the threat is gone, this numbness can lead to problems, such as being unable to sense whether you are hurt, tired, or even hungry. It can produce a separation between body and mind, a resentment, or even hatred of the body. Reconnecting with the body can be done through many different techniques, including massage (even self massage), yoga (e.g. yoga specifically for trauma and abuse survivors), and mindfulness. Mindfulness can be used to focus on your body - such as completing 'body scans' as you are out walking or sitting on a train (only if being 'in' your body doesn't feel too overwhelming for you). Start at your toes and work your way right up to the top of your scalp - what do you notice? Are there areas that you can't feel? Can you sense tension, pain, or even the temperature of different parts of your body? You can use the same detailed focus on your environment to remind you that you are in the present - that the abuse is (hopefully) in the past and that you are safe now. What can you see, hear, smell, and touch? This can be a useful method of keeping yourself grounded, calming your nervous system, and reduce the likeliness of a flashback. In addition to yoga, breathing exercises and meditation can be used to calm the nervous system too (the part of your body that jumps into action when threatened - the fight or flight response as it is typically called). These are just some of the ways that we can begin to address our physical embodied pain from a history of trauma. Journaling about all the methods you use, and keeping a record of what helps and what doesn't can be a great way of combining the talking therapeutic approach - of voicing your experience in a safe space - and reflecting on how to heal those parts of you that don't speak. Resources: The Courage to Heal The Body Keeps Score Getting Past Your Past

by Dr. Jem Tosh The British Psychological Society has shortlisted my first book to be considered for their 2016 academic monograph award! You can currently buy Perverse Psychology at a discounted price using the code CCP2016 at Routledge.com, as well as any of the other great books from Ian Parker's Critical Psychology Series! About Perverse Psychology: Psychology defines people who take pleasure in the suffering of others as having a form of mental illness, while media representations frame such behaviour as ‘evil’. This is hotly contested territory, not least where sexual violence is concerned – violence which feminist voices argue is related to power rather than sex. Perverse Psychology examines psychiatric constructions of sexual violence and transgender people from the 19th century until the latest DSM-5 diagnoses. It uses discourse analysis to interrogate the discursive boundaries between 'normal' and 'abnormal' rape, as well as the pathologization of gender and sexual diversity. The book illuminates for the first time the parallels between psychiatry’s construction of gender diversity and sexual violence, and leads us to question whether it is violence that the profession finds so intriguing, or the gender nonconformity it represents. Perverse Psychology is ideal reading for postgraduate students and researchers in the fields of critical psychology, discourse analysis, feminism, transgender people, LGBT psychology, and the history of psychiatry. Contents 1. Introduction Part One: Sexual Violence 2. Psychology and Sexual Violence: A Historical Review 3. Remedicalizing Rape Part Two: Gender Nonconformity 4. Psychology, Homosexuality, and ‘Feminine Boys’ 5. Psychology, Gender, and Nonconformity: Transforming ‘GID’ Part Three: Perverse Psychology 6. Rape: A Perversion of Gender 7. Conclusions : Psychology is Perverse Reviews: "Highly original, closely argued, and ingenious analysis." Professor Erica Burman, University of Manchester "At last a book that speaks about the unspoken. Well written, well referenced - a highly stimulating read." Kirsten Nokling, The Psychologist "Well written, insightful, interesting, informative, and an excellent resource." Joan Strutton, PsycCRITIQUES "Invigorating and provocative." Pierre Brouard, University of Pretoria "A very important book about how modern psychology has been used to invalidate and suppress sex and gender diversity." Jack Molay, Crossdreamers Click here for the full list of shortlisted Routledge books.