The blockbuster film "Barbie" is a journey through fantasy to our flawed reality revealing profound truths about gender discrimination and societal norms. In this episode, our guests Jan Langbein, Bianca Davis, and Amy Jones uncover the layers of patriarchy skilfully woven into the narrative of the 2023 film. We traverse from Barbie's idyllic origins to her encounter with the harsh realities faced by women, discussing how these fictional events mirror the gender biases that permeate our professional and personal lives.

Our conversation isn't just about the silver screen. We shed light on the shadowy corners of gender inequality, addressing how ambition in women is often misconstrued while their male counterparts are praised for similar traits. The episode navigates through Barbie's confrontation with corporate giants, reflecting the pressures to conform, and extends the discussion to real situations faced by survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault. We mingle our expertise with experiences, unpacking how systemic issues fortify traditional gender roles and the importance of sisterhood in overcoming them.

The dialogue takes a turn as we dissect the complexities of the 'Tradwife' movement, the objectification of women, and the crucial fight for survivors of sexual assault within the legal labyrinth.  Our guests bring a wealth of knowledge and personal insights to this episode, offering a powerful message that leaves you not only enlightened but empowered to be part of the change for gender equality.

Mark Wynn, former lieutenant and survivor of domestic violence, recounts his transformative journey from enduring the grip of abuse to becoming a beacon for others.  Our conversation offers an unfiltered glimpse into the lasting effects of childhood trauma, the critical role of law enforcement training in handling domestic violence, and the pivotal support systems that uplift survivors. Mark's narrative is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Navigating the tangled web of child abuse, policing, and Child Protective Services, this episode uncovers the strategies offenders use to sow fear and the challenges children face in trusting the police, especially within diverse communities. We discuss the delicate art of interviewing young victims and the importance of comprehensive police reports, shedding light on coordination between law enforcement and CPS. The discussion extends to the fraught landscape of family courts, where the details officers capture can tip the scales in custody and protective order cases, and the introduction of risk assessment tools that aim to safeguard those most vulnerable during times of upheaval.

As we conclude, our focus shifts to the systemic barriers victims encounter, from economic hurdles in civil courts to a shortage of expert witnesses. Mark emphasizes how the personal experiences of law enforcement officers with domestic violence can profoundly shape their response to incidents. We advocate for community support in providing transitional housing and resources for Spanish-speaking victims, uniting in the belief that healing and hope for survivors begin with us all. Join us in this profound exploration that not only seeks to understand the intricacies of domestic violence but also aims to strengthen the very fabric of support for those impacted.

Author, professor, and New York Times op-ed contributing writer, Rachel Louise Snyder, joins us for a raw and honest discussion about child abuse, domestic violence, and grief as laid bare in her gripping memoir, "Women We Buried, Women We Burned." To quote the author, "Cancer took my mother. But religion would take my life." The odyssey begins as an 8-year-old Rachel learns her mother has died. From there, her childhood unravels, and the subsequent decades include chaotic experiences of upheaval, abuse, and forced religiosity all leading to both the author's undoing and her ultimate journey of self-discovery.

In this candid look at the author's own experiences, we explore both the darkness that abuse casts, and the light of understanding and transformation that can emerge from such depths. Our conversation weaves through the entanglement of love and abuse, reflecting on the complexities that many survivors face — the dichotomy of endearing and harmful qualities within relationships that often go unseen by the public eye. Rachel also takes us through the harrowing systemic challenges that victims face, from law enforcement's response to the judicial system's handling of their plight. 

Rachel's story is not just one of sorrow but also of evolution and rediscovery. From her early days as a rebellious teen to her transformative experiences in the cultural melting pot of Cambodia, her journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. As an advocate for domestic violence survivors, she illuminates the importance of community support and the essential services provided by organizations like Genesis Women's Shelter & Support. By telling the story of her life, Rachel Louise Snyder offers a dialogue where hope persists amidst adversity, and where the sharing of one's narrative can be both an act of courage and a beacon for change.

This episode offers a riveting journey into the thorny issue of self-defense claims made by victims of domestic violence. Listeners will leave with a fresh perspective and deeper understanding of the complexities involved in these cases. Kelsey McKay, a seasoned attorney and the founder of Respond Against Violence, brings her expertise to our discussion. As a former prosecutor, she shares invaluable insights on how the criminal legal system responds to self-defense claims, with often visible injury being the sole determining factor in assault cases.

We dissect the challenging issue of self-defense laws, particularly their failure to account for the fear and isolation that survivors of abuse experience. A chilling real-life case illustrates how systemic biases and lack of proper training can lead to grave injustices, especially for women of color. We also point out the strategic methods abusers use to isolate victims from utilizing the criminal system, and the uphill battle victims face when advocating for themselves. 

As we wrap up, we highlight the urgent need for change in societal understanding and language concerning self-defense laws. This is to prevent women from being incarcerated for defending themselves against their abusers, through educating investigators and prosecutors on the dynamics of abuse. 

Genesis Women's Shelter & Support is often called upon to provide expert witness testimony in domestic violence cases. To better understand the role of the expert witness and how they can help facilitate an understanding of domestic violence for legal teams, judges, and jurors, Ruth Guerreiro, LCSW and Genesis' Chief Clinical Officer, and Jordyn Lawson, LPC and Genesis' Chief Residential Officer, join the conversation in an episode that is both educational and enlightening. 

In this episode, our guests explain how they navigate the labyrinth of legal proceedings, illuminating the cornerstones of domestic violence dynamics and the significant role the expert witness plays in providing context and education to the courtroom. They also prepare us for the complexities of this process - from the questions attorneys may pose to the delicate task of determining which testimony bears relevance. We also dive into the impacts of domestic violence on children and the disheartening reasons why victims often refrain from participating in court hearings. 

We dig into the contrasting roles of fact and expert witnesses, learn how they can support victims by providing crucial insights to the court, and how their consultation can guide attorneys through the murky waters of domestic violence cases. We expose the tactics used by defendants and the strategies that can empower victims to have their voices heard in the courtroom. Lastly, we delve into how the expert testimony of our guests is used by juries, how it influences the sentencing hearing, and how it can help untangle the manipulative narratives spun by defense attorneys. Join us, as we unravel the intricacies of domestic violence cases and understand the true context and dynamics of abuse with expert insight that brings to light the importance of educating the court on the often misunderstood dynamics of domestic violence.

What does it mean to raise boys in a world that faces an ongoing battle with toxic masculinity? How do societal pressures, gendered expectations, and the culture of sports affect our sons and shape their perception of manhood? This week I had the privilege of sitting down with my colleague and fellow boy mom, Jordyn Lawson, to share experiences and insights into raising boys in the 21st century. 

Together we explore the challenges of toxic masculinity, delving into its manifestations in sports and personal relationships, the pressures of societal expectations, and its correlation to domestic violence. We also opened up about the realities of raising boys in a society that still clings tightly to traditional gender roles - a conversation that led us to explore the concept of toxic femininity and its far-reaching impacts. We agreed that parents have an essential role in guiding their sons, teaching them to regulate their emotions, and promoting emotional intelligence – a key element towards dismantling the harmful ideologies behind toxic masculinity.

In the end, we settled on the power of education as a primary tool for countering toxic masculinity. We underlined the importance of safe spaces for boys and the need to challenge stereotypes that limit their understanding of what it means to be a man. By sharing our personal experiences and strategies, we found a fresh perspective on raising confident, empathetic, and well-rounded boys. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to raise their sons in a society that is slowly but surely redefining masculinity.

What if the very institution meant to protect you, weaponizes and silences you instead? This disturbing question lies at the heart of our conversation with renowned Professor Emeritus, social worker, and author Evan Stark. Evan's staggering and transformative research exposes the damaging impact of coercive control on children, and how this abuse often stems from a terroristic pattern within households.

Evan elaborates on the terrifying power play in which children become pawns, mirroring the tyranny suffered by women. His research unveils the chilling reality that domestic violence provides the most prevalent context for child abuse. We navigate through the insidious control mechanisms, the resulting intimidation, and the profound long-term effects on the victims. Evan also reveals how child welfare systems and children-serving systems were forced to adapt in response to his ground-breaking findings.

Towards the end, we steer the conversation towards the crippling influence of coercive control on the legal system. Evan shares cases where children were manipulated and forced into silence, and the abuser often remained unseen by both child welfare experts and medical professionals. Yet there is hope. We highlight examples of countries - such as Scotland that are working to create secure environments for women and children around the world including naming coercive control as a crime. 

Genesis CEO Jan Langbein and Chief Clinical Officer Ruth Guerreiro recently visited Honduras to collaborate on a new domestic violence shelter in the city of Siguatepeque. They join the conversation to reveal the alarming prevalence of femicide and domestic violence in Latin America, the urgent need for communication systems that not only affirm domestic violence as illegal, but also ensure secure channels for reporting such atrocities, and the future of services for women who experience abuse.

In this episode we experience the progress of a Latin American community rallying together to combat domestic violence. You will hear the awe-inspiring story of a local police officer who, against all odds, manages to connect a young victim with a social services program, the heartening efforts of both the Mayor and First Lady of Siguatepeque who are leading the charge to raise funds for the new shelter Casa Rosa, and how Genesis is collaborating with the city to bring a robust program of safety, shelter and support to this growing community. We also explore the unique challenges of building a domestic violence agency in Latin America, from transportation and security hurdles to the potential of volunteers spearheading a transport system. 

Have you ever felt silenced? This is how many survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault feel as they traverse the criminal justice system. With Kelsey McKay, founder of Respond Against Violence and former prosecutor, we delve into the power of allocutions and how they can transform the narrative of survivors of violent crime, giving them a powerful platform to share their truth.

We navigate the labyrinth of the criminal legal system, peeling away layers to understand its complexities. Kelsey, with her rich experience and vast knowledge, guides us through this journey, talking about the importance of victim impact statements and allocutions in ensuring justice. By shifting the focus to the survivor, we explore how language can be wielded to realign the narrative around the victim, creating a more empowered and inclusive framework.

Our conversation also touches upon the role of programs like the Uncooperative website and Do No Harm campaign in uplifting survivor's voices, and how allocutions can be used to advocate for social justice.  This is more than just a conversation; it’s a call to action, an invitation to change the narrative and empower survivors of violence. 

Ever wonder how domestic violence affects the emotional bonds crucial to our relationships? Join us as we broach this vital topic with Ruth Guerreiro, Chief Clinical Officer of Genesis Women's Shelter and Support. Together, we'll uncover the influence of domestic violence on the four types of attachment styles - secure, avoidant, ambivalent, and disorganized. Hear as Ruth unravels the devious tactics often employed by abusive partners to disrupt a mother's ability to form a secure attachment with her child.

Our conversation takes us into the world of abusive fathers and the harmful tactics they employ that have a potential to leave lasting scars on their children. We shed light on the damaging messages of disrespect, inequality, and aggression these fathers subtly communicate to their children, while also undermining the mother's ability to parent effectively. This exploration promises to broaden your understanding of the psychological warfare often deployed by men in domestic violence situations.

To culminate, we emphasize the power of therapy in mending the mother-child bond post-trauma and reveal the integral role that bilingual services at Genesis Women's Shelter play in supporting families impacted by domestic violence. Learn how therapies like EMDR and play therapy, bolstered by effective praise, physical proximity, and positive physical touch, can boost a child's confidence and foster a sense of secure attachment. This episode isn't simply an intellectual exercise, it's a journey into the human psyche and the resilience of the mother-child bond in the face of adversity.