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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 BESTSELLER

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 which 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 Gender Studies Politics & Government Social Sciences Women in Politics Mental Health Health

Critic Reviews

Dr Taylor's fierce polemic shows how professionals can pathologise and sexualise women and girls and how misogynistic the medical model can be . . . interesting [with] moments of brilliance . . .
Fierce and fearless.
The topics touched on in Sexy But Psycho are wide-ranging, but, for me, the most important message from the book is the vital importance of listening carefully to what women have to say.
All stars
Most relevant
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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