en(gender)ed

On this episode of the en(gender)ed podcast, our guest is Dr. Jessica Taylor, founder and owner of VictimFocus, an organization providing research, consultancy, and thought leadership in forensic psychology, feminism, and mental health. We speak with Jessica today about her book, Why Women Are Blamed for Everything, which covers the psychology of victim-blaming and self blame of women who have been subjected to sexual violence and abuse. We explore the double-bind of what it means to be a woman--the ways in which womanhood is constructed to give status with the male gaze, endanger women, and then hold them responsible when they are victimized.

During our conversation, Jessica and I referenced the following resources and topics:

• The documentary--"Searching for Angela Shelton"
• The role of sexism and misogyny in underpinning a culture of men's violence against women
• The need for more evidence-based practices in prosecuting crimes against women
• Typical trauma reactions for victims to display--fight, flight, freeze, or fawn
• How money influences decisions in court cases affecting women
• The benefits of attitudinal testing for filtering out bias in decision-makers
• Judge Esther Salas's connection to the Jeffrey Epstein case
• Trends in the US and UK where accountability for abuse is secondary to abuser trauma
• The work of Dale Spender

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On this episode of the en(gender)ed podcast, our guest is Caitlin Myer, author of Wiving: A Memoir of Loving Then Leaving the Patriarchy. We speak to Caitlin today about her experience growing up Mormon, leaving the church, and the role of religion, gender, and sex on shaping her own experience of womanhood. Our conversation also explores Caitlin's struggle to understand and negotiate her status as "wife" and "wiving" and how this concept both informed and shaped her trauma, relationships, and healing journey. We consider the ways in which these patterns are shared by all women, while also envisioning a way to break the cycle of suffering.

During our conversation, Caitlin and I referenced the following resources and topics:

• The documentary--"Cracked Up: The Darrell Hammond Story"
• Teaching consent to children
• The sexualization of children

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Thanks for tuning in to the en(gender)ed podcast!

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On this episode of the en(gender)ed podcast, our guest is Melissa Faliveno, author of her essay collection, Tomboyland, a meditation on the influences of geography, desire, and identity on her journey as a queer woman and feminist. We speak with Melissa about how her childhood in Wisconsin shaped her views of her conceptions of sex, womanhood, and her own performance of femininity as an expression of power. Melissa also offers reflections on other markers of gender and identity, including religion, guns, rural identity, and their manifestations in culture, their intersections, and their contradictions.

During our conversation, Melissa and I referenced the following resources and topics:

• The ways in which gender identity, consent, and language is viewed in the queer community
• Guns as a symbol of masculine identity and power
• The connection between womanhood and motherhood and plant parenting as another form of parenting
• Plant Kween, a queer black, plant parent on Instagram
• Black plant parents

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On this episode of the en(gender)ed podcast, our guest is Lisa Selin Davis, writer, essayist and author of the upcoming book, Tomboy: The Surprising History and Future of Girls Who Dare to Be Different. We speak to Lisa today about the history and evolution of the term "tomboy" and its response to a gender-binary culture. We talk about how tomboyism offers girls a way to both challenge and reinforce dominant narratives of femininity, womanhood, and sex. Lisa also offers suggestions on how parents and individuals can re-imagine how we explore, build, and strengthen relationships with one another that helps kids of all genders and women to realize their full selves, within and outside of our notions of gender and femininity.

During our conversation, Lisa and I referenced the following resources and topics:

• The history and cultural use of the word "tomboy" and the pink/blue divide
• How terms like "gender-nonbinary," "gender fluid" or "gender-nonconforming" relate to the term "tomboy"
• C. Lynn Carr's research on and its connection to Adverse Childhood Experiences or "ACEs"
• The connection of tomboyism and eugenics and homophobia
• JK Rowling's statement on sex and gender issues and the complete breakdown of the controversy

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Thanks for tuning in to the en(gender)ed podcast!

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In this "Reflections" episode,Teri and Michael reflect back on episodes on women, gender, and democracy: Episode 103: Jenna Spinelle of the "Democracy Works" podcast on COVID-19, the media, and elections, Episode 105: Jen Senko on "The Brainwashing of My Dad" and right-wing media's impact on our democracy, Episode 107: Christina Hu on the importance of minority civic engagement to democracy, Episode 109: Erin Vilardi of "Vote Run Lead" on its work to train and elect more women to elected office, and Episode 110: Jordan Zaslow on "Women for the Win" and gender equality in government.

During our conversation, Michael and I touched upon the following resources in our conversation:

• The myth of "voter fraud" and actual statistics
• Republican efforts to suppress voting rights
• Ivanka Trump's Goya endorsement, now under an ethics investigation
• Andrew Yang's campaign platforms as it related to diversity in representation
• Kamala Harris and Mindy Kaling bonding over dosa
• McConnell's proposal for five year corporate immunity
• Judge Ester Salas son's alleged murderer and his identity as an "anti-feminist" and male supremacist

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In this "Reflections" episode,Teri and Michael reflect back on episodes on the gendered impact of COVID-19: Episode 96: Laura Ramirez of Af3irm on decolonizing "sex work," Episode 97: #SurvivorStories Series with "Carol" on parenting with an abuser during COVID-19, Episode 99: Martin Hultman on misogyny and masculinities on climate change denial, Episode 100: #SurvivorStories Series with Nicole Lee on domestic abuse with a disability, Episode 101: Nazir Afzal on COVID-19 or the coronavirus' impact on domestic violence, Episode 102: Jen Kamel on COVID-19's impact on pregnancy and reproductive rights, and Episode 108: Feminism in the Age of COVID-19 Conference on Domestic Violence.

During our conversation, Michael and I touched upon the following resources in our conversation:

• The difference between the Equality or Nordic Model and the full decriminalization model of prostitution
• The connection between masculinity and refusal to wear masks or masks as condoms of the face
• The "incel" community and recognition of their increasing threat to women and the planet
• Sexism and misogyny manifesting in "victim-blaming" culture
• The growing danger posed by right-wing terrorism as our greatest threat
• Southern Poverty Law Center's assessment of right-wing extremism and Trump's minimization of this threat
• New research that shows it's better to remove domestic violence perpetrators than victims
• The sexual abuse allegations plaguing the "Super Smash Brothers" gaming community
• Laws that contributed to mass incarceration
• Rates of mass incarceration by race in the US versus the UK
• Coercive control as a recognized crime in the UK
• Our interview with Indra Lusero of the National Advocates for Pregnant Women and how pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes can be used against women
• Our interview with Bethany Johnson and Maggie Quinlan on the history and construction of motherhood

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Thanks for tuning in to the en(gender)ed podcast!

Be sure to check out our en(gender)ed site and follow our blog on Medium.

Join our feminist community of survivors, advocates and allies!

Consider donating because your support is what makes this work sustainable.

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On this episode of the en(gender)ed podcast, our guest is Jordan Zaslow, an award-winning director and producer and champion of female voices. She is currently serving as Executive Director of Women For The Win, a coalition committed to creating positive political change and giving voice to underrepresented female candidates. We speak with Jordan today about her work for Women For The Win, the importance of gender equality and representation in our democracy, and how and what role brands and public figures have in promoting messaging that strengthen our democractic norms, structures, and institutions.

During our conversation, Jordan and I referenced the following resources and topics:

• The history of Women for the Win and its origin story with Ramaa Mosley
• How the question of "likeability" shows up for female candidates
• Jon Freeman Lab's research on how implicit bias impacts behavior
• Surviving R. Kelly
• The HBR article, "Women Scored Higher Than Men in Most Leadership Skills"
• Women's "confidence gap"
• Melanie D'Arrigo's candidacy
• Kathy Ellis' candidacy
• Phyllis Harvey-Hall's candidacy
• Pat Timmons-Goodson's candidacy
• Kim Nelson's candidacy

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Thanks for tuning in to the en(gender)ed podcast!

Be sure to check out our en(gender)ed site and follow our blog on Medium.

Join our feminist community of survivors, advocates and allies!

Consider donating because your support is what makes this work sustainable.

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On this episode of the en(gender)ed podcast, our guest is Erin Vilardi, the Founder and CEO of Vote Run Lead, the nation's largest and most diverse training program for women to run for office and win. She first launched Vote Run Lead as Vice President of Program and Communications at The White House Project. We speak with Erin today about Vote Run Lead's work to help train female candidates to run and win, some of the barriers they face along the way, and how society benefits when we have more women in elected office and positions of power.

During our conversation, Erin and I referenced the following resources and topics:

• The history of Vote Run Lead, and its founding by Marie Wilson, creator of "Take Your Daughter to Work Day"
• Jon Freeman Lab's research on how implicit bias impacts behavior
• How feminine traits impact perceptions and results for female candidates

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Thanks for tuning in to the en(gender)ed podcast!

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Join our feminist community of survivors, advocates and allies!

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On this episode of the en(gender)ed podcast, we broadcast the recorded panel between Jillian Foster, Fariba Nawa, and Teri Yuan for the June 12, 2020 Feminism in COVID Conference series, sponsored by the Continuum Collective and co-sponsored by the Engendered Collective and the On Spec podcast. Jillian moderates a conversation on how COVID-19 has impacted the work we are doing in the United States and in Muslim societies and how different societies deal with violence against women, especially as it relates to varying conceptions of feminism. Our conversation delves into the role of faith leaders in the lives of survivors, the notion of accountability and how it is manifest in these different regions, and why it's important to have a feminist lens for interrogating violence and oppression.

During our conversation, Jillian, Fariba, and Teri referenced the following resources and topics:

• We Will Stop Femicides
• #PutMenInTheirPlace hashtag that became popular in the Muslim belt
• Turkey's high profile domestic violence case with musician Sila
• The work of Dr. Laura Sjoberg on gendered conflict studies
• Jess Hill's book, See What You Made Me Do on gender terrorism
• How "Restorative Justice" is being misapplied in domestic violence cases
• The concept of "reparations" for victims of gender-based violence
• How to join the Engendered Collective, which is connecting survivors, advocates and allies in community, learning, and advocacy

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Thanks for tuning in to the en(gender)ed podcast!

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Join our feminist community of survivors, advocates and allies!

Consider donating because your support is what makes this work sustainable.

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On this episode of the en(gender)ed podcast, our guest is Christina Hu, a documentary filmmaker, former Peace Corps volunteer, and former Regional GOTV Director in Virginia for President Obama's re-election campaign. In 2019, Christina joined the Taiwanese American Citizen's League's (TACL) National Board as Director of Civic Engagement to help lead the Census 2020 Initiative. We speak with Christina today about the importance of civic engagement and inclusion in a democractic society and the role of Asian-Americans and Pacific-Islanders as a political force for achieving equality.

During our conversation, Christina and I referenced the following resources and topics:

• What inspired Christina to become civically engaged
• The history of democracy in Taiwan, from martial law and the period of "white terror" to the present
• The importance of the Census 2020 to minority representation and within the Asian-American community, in particular
• Asian-American Federation Group
• What civic engagement means to Christina and the kinds of activities she offers to the community to consider in addition to traditional forms of activism
• The role of civic engagement to uphold a democracy
• The trend of Asian-Americans to move towards the left
• AAPI polling on a range of government and policy issues
• The importance of Asian-Black solidarity in achieving racial justice and why Asian-Americans should support Black Lives Matter
• The significance of Andrew Yang's candidacy to Asian-American Pacific Islander representation
• The reaction to Andrew Yang's OpEd to the Washington Post on anti-Asian violence during COVID-19

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Thanks for tuning in to the en(gender)ed podcast!

Be sure to check out our en(gender)ed site and follow our blog on Medium.

Join our feminist community of survivors, advocates and allies!

Consider donating because your support is what makes this work sustainable.

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