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Sexy but Psycho

How the Patriarchy Uses Women’s Trauma Against Them

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Sexy but Psycho

By: Dr Jessica Taylor
Narrated by: Dr Jessica Taylor
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About this listen

The Sunday Times best seller.

Angry, opinionated, mouthy, aggressive, hysterical, mad, disordered, crazy, psycho, delusional, borderline, hormonal.... Women have long been pathologized, locked up and medicated for not conforming to whichever norms or stereotypes are expected of them in that time and space. Sexy but Psycho is a challenging and uncomfortable book that seeks to explore the way professionals and society at large pathologize and sexualise women and girls.

Utilising decades of research, real case studies and new data from her own work, Dr Taylor's book will critically analyse the way we label women with personality disorders. Why are women and girls pathologized for being angry about oppression and abuse? How have so many women been duped into believing that they are mentally ill for having normal and natural reactions to their experiences? Sexy but Psycho argues that there is a specific purpose to convincing women and girls that they are mentally ill, as the world avoids addressing violence against women and their centuries of ignored trauma.

©2022 VictimFocus and Dr Jessica Taylor (P)2022 Hachette Audio UK Gender Studies Social Sciences Mental Health Health
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This book is mind-blowing. Sad, scary and so unfortunately true and accurate. I will never unhear it. Life will be different now

Mind-blowing

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I truly hope Dr Jessica Taylor’s important work becomes a groundswell movement that instigates the critical change needed to transform the medicalisation of trauma. Women and girls across the planet deserve and have a right to expect their trauma is acknowledged and treated with empathy and respect - not victim blaming and a psychiatric diagnosis requiring pills and, worse, ECT.

This is an important book that deserves to be read by everyone in health snd social care, law enforcement, media and policy. We must do much better!

An eye opening call to action

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This book should be read by every woman as well as every person working in 'caring professions' - mental health workers, doctors, nurses, social workers.

For those women who have been traumatised by men and then tried to get help - it will either shock and anger you, confirm your suspicions or possibly both.

Possibly best read in chunks as it can be triggering, but its hard to stop listening.

FINALLY someone speaking out about the terrible ways traumatised women are pathologised into being 'disordered' and the patriarchal system behind it.

The author is from the UK but sites similar issues happenning around the world. I definitely see, and have personally seen and experienced these same issues in Australia.

Mindblowing !

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No bull just straight talking reality. Should be required reading for anyone working in psychology services & medicine - though I imagine it would be too challenging to actually take it onboard. It flies in the face of all the nonsense they are taught to believe. This is a gemstone in all the rubbish out there about mental illness & women. Absolute gold that I fear will remain buried. Def recommend & recommend you recommend to others.

Raw honest truth

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I'm struggling to sum up how informative, helpful, relatable, insightful and so well articulated this book is! I have already passed in on to many other women that I believe it will guide their wider perspective. I will absolutely be relistening to relevant chapters. I'm grateful this author exists! Thank you!

Grateful for this book and author!

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Thank you Dr Jessica Taylor for this call to arms! This book is worth listening to twice. It is utterly horrifying to comprehend (once again) how women's trauma is weaponised again them, damned if we do, damned if we don't. Please share this book with other women in your life, it may change their lives too. Dr Jessica Taylor shows strength and courage as she shares her own experiences with in the system. She has over come challenges consistently in order to become a leader in this field. Dr Jessica Taylor is an absolute gem for shedding light on these topics to help women, often powerless women, globally.

A Necessary Revolution

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This book is brilliant, & like Jessica's other work, it's so very well researched & presented. At times I found this book hard to listen to; I personally identify with so much of the content. Other times I was angry, disgusted, shocked, horrified, afraid, of the stark information, explained in sensible language, with very relatable examples. It's serious reading, but it's empowering. Through the caring & sharing of knowledge this book is a call to action & a call of solidarity. As Jessica says in the final pages: share this with a woman who needs it. And I will, many, many times.

Amazing & Inspiring

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well researched and brilliantly written. this is a must read for everyone to help change the way we deal with mentally unwell people in our society

a must read for everyone

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This book explains many questions women and girls have when they are not taken seriously and empowers them to know that there are people who do. Excellent suggestions for trauma-informed care that will change services and improve outcomes!

A Thought-Provoking Analysis of Psychiatry and Misogyny

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I have never read such a powerful book. It has made me question everything I’ve ever believed about psychiatry and the diagnoses I and my female friends have received throughout our lives. Dr Taylor’s book is fantastic, horrifying and inspiring.

Powerful

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