Meg-John Barker – författare

Hur är det att leva som transperson i Sverige i dag? Ges könsbekräftande vård lättvindigt eller får man tvärtom vänta alldeles för länge? På vilka sätt kan minoritetsstress påverka transpersoners hälsa?

Transfrågor syns alltmer i samhällsdebatten. Samtidigt är många osäkra på vad olika begrepp betyder, vad som är ett gott bemötande och hur livsvillkoren ser ut för transpersoner. Trans är en antologi som förmedlar forskning och kunskap på ett tillgängligt sätt, där ämnet också tillåts vara komplext. Korta intervjuer ger ytterligare inblick i olika erfarenheter.

Boken är skriven för alla som vill lära sig mer om transfrågor. Den ger även guidning och stöd för transpersoner och närstående.

Trans är skriven av flera av Sveriges mest kunniga inom området. Redaktörer är Edward Summanen, socionom och genusvetare som arbetat med hälsa för transpersoner sedan 2008, i dag verksam på Transammans – förbundet för transpersoner och närstående, samt Matilda Wurm, leg. psykolog, fil.dr inom hälsopsykologi och lektor i socialt arbete på Örebro universitet, som bland annat forskar och undervisar om hbtq-personers livsvillkor. Kapitelförfattare: Tove Lundberg, leg. psykolog och docent i psykologi. Anna Malmquist, leg. psykolog och docent i psykologi. Meg-John Barker, psykolog och fil.dr i psykologi. Ida Linander fil.dr i folkhälsa. Axel Repka, specialistläkare. Maria Kindstedt, leg. psykolog. Kapitlen av Meg-John Barker är översatta av Desirée Kellerman.

Trans vann Prisma Litteraturpris 2023, kategori Årets facklitterära verk, med följande motivering: ”Edward Summanen och Matilda Wurm har sammanställt en välskriven antologi som tar ett helhetsgrepp om transfrågor. Hantverksmässigt är den imponerande i såväl text som layout, och dess samtidiga bredd och fördjupning gör den unik i sitt slag. Kombinationen av forskarperspektiv och levda erfarenheter ger en nyanserad och mångsidig bild, som vågar vara komplex utan att någonsin vika från lojaliteten med transpersoner som grupp.”

Sagt om boken:

”Författarna, forskare och praktiker med spjutspetskompetens i transfrågor, guidar varsamt och pedagogiskt igenom skilda aspekter av området trans, avlivar myter och ger nya värdefulla perspektiv.”Jack Lukkerz, BTJ-häftet nr 11, 2023

”Om du jobbar inom vården, skolan eller är journalist – läs den här boken. Om du är transperson eller närstående – läs den här boken. Om du över huvud taget vistas i samhället och träffar människor ibland – läs den här boken. Din utökade kunskap och förståelse kan rädda liv.”Jenny Jägerfeld, leg. psykolog och författare

”Allt du behöver för att hänga med i nutidens diskussioner om transfrågor och samhällsinkludering. Smart, enkelt skriven med expertkunskap och bra begreppsdefinitioner.”Wibke Straube, forskare i genusvetenskap vid Karlstads universitet

Questions of sexuality and gender affect everyone and therefore have an inevitable relevance in the consulting room. Yet with interpretations and manifestations of both varying greatly from person to person, understanding the inherent complexities of sexuality and gender can be a daunting task for the health professional. Breaking down these complexities this practical guide familiarises the reader with all of the common and many of the less common sexualities, genders and relationship forms, and explains experiences and issues relating to each. The book contains:

 

-Explanations of various forms of sexuality, gender and relationship structures

-Common concerns relating to specific groups

-Key practises relating to specific groups

-The treatment of specific groups in contemporary Western society

-Details of some rules and ideals that are commonly found within specific groups

-Suggestions for professional practice with these groups

 

Ideal for all members of the multidisciplinary team, this accessible book is relevant to practitioners across theoretical backgrounds. Whether you are a trainee or qualified psychotherapist, counsellor, nurse, medic, psychiatrist, social worker or applied psychologist, this is a vital text for your professional practice. CHRISTINA RICHARDS is Senior Specialist Psychology Associate at the West London Mental Health NHS Trust (Charing Cross) Gender Identity Clinic. MEG BARKER is a senior lecturer in psychology at the Open University and a sex and relationship therapist.

 

Questions of sexuality and gender affect everyone and therefore have an inevitable relevance in the consulting room. Yet with interpretations and manifestations of both varying greatly from person to person, understanding the inherent complexities of sexuality and gender can be a daunting task for the health professional. Breaking down these complexities this practical guide familiarises the reader with all of the common and many of the less common sexualities, genders and relationship forms, and explains experiences and issues relating to each. The book contains:

 

-Explanations of various forms of sexuality, gender and relationship structures

-Common concerns relating to specific groups

-Key practises relating to specific groups

-The treatment of specific groups in contemporary Western society

-Details of some rules and ideals that are commonly found within specific groups

-Suggestions for professional practice with these groups

 

Ideal for all members of the multidisciplinary team, this accessible book is relevant to practitioners across theoretical backgrounds. Whether you are a trainee or qualified psychotherapist, counsellor, nurse, medic, psychiatrist, social worker or applied psychologist, this is a vital text for your professional practice. CHRISTINA RICHARDS is Senior Specialist Psychology Associate at the West London Mental Health NHS Trust (Charing Cross) Gender Identity Clinic. MEG BARKER is a senior lecturer in psychology at the Open University and a sex and relationship therapist.

 

What can psychology teach us about sex? How do different bodies and minds respond sexually? How can we prevent people being stigmatised for their sexuality? The Psychology of Sex takes you on a tour through the different ways that psychologists have researched and theorised, and created and sustained, certain understandings of sex and sexuality. The book explores cultural concerns, such as sex and technology, trauma and consent, as well as drawing on research from sexual communities and the applied area of sex therapy. When so much of our relationship to sex happens in the mind, The Psychology of Sex shows us how important it is to understand where our ideas about sex, and our erotic desires, come from.

What can psychology teach us about sex? How do different bodies and minds respond sexually? How can we prevent people being stigmatised for their sexuality? The Psychology of Sex takes you on a tour through the different ways that psychologists have researched and theorised, and created and sustained, certain understandings of sex and sexuality. The book explores cultural concerns, such as sex and technology, trauma and consent, as well as drawing on research from sexual communities and the applied area of sex therapy. When so much of our relationship to sex happens in the mind, The Psychology of Sex shows us how important it is to understand where our ideas about sex, and our erotic desires, come from.

We live in a time of uncertainty about relationships. We search for The One but remain single because nobody measures up. We long for a happily-ever-after but breakup after breakup leave us bruised and confused. We yearn for connection, but our attempts to get it disconnect us more than ever.Rewriting the Rules: A Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships is a friendly companion through the complicated – often contradictory – advice that’s given about sex and gender, monogamy and conflict, break-up and commitment. It asks questions about the rules of love: Which should we choose from all those on offer? Do we stick to the old rules we learnt growing up, or do we try something new and risk being out on our own? And what about the times when the rules we love by seem to make things worse, rather than better?This new edition considers how the rules are being ‘rewritten’ in various ways: in monogamous, monogamish and polyamorous relationships, through different ways of understanding sex and gender, and via new ideas for managing commitment and breakup when economics, communities, or child-care make complete separation impossible. The book empowers you to find an approach that best fits your situation, concluding with a reflection on how we might collectively rewrite our rules of relating during times of collective crisis.

We live in a time of uncertainty about relationships. We search for The One but remain single because nobody measures up. We long for a happily-ever-after but breakup after breakup leave us bruised and confused. We yearn for connection, but our attempts to get it disconnect us more than ever.Rewriting the Rules: A Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships is a friendly companion through the complicated – often contradictory – advice that’s given about sex and gender, monogamy and conflict, break-up and commitment. It asks questions about the rules of love: Which should we choose from all those on offer? Do we stick to the old rules we learnt growing up, or do we try something new and risk being out on our own? And what about the times when the rules we love by seem to make things worse, rather than better?This new edition considers how the rules are being ‘rewritten’ in various ways: in monogamous, monogamish and polyamorous relationships, through different ways of understanding sex and gender, and via new ideas for managing commitment and breakup when economics, communities, or child-care make complete separation impossible. The book empowers you to find an approach that best fits your situation, concluding with a reflection on how we might collectively rewrite our rules of relating during times of collective crisis.

The Palgrave Handbook of the Psychology of Sexuality and Gender combines cutting edge research to provide a thorough overview of all the normative - and many of the less common - sexualities, genders and relationship forms alongside psychological and intersectional areas relating to sexuality and gender.

This book addresses the emerging field of genderqueer or non-binary genders - that is, individuals who do not identify as male or female. It considers theoretical, research, practice, and activist perspectives; and outlines a basis for good practice when working with non-binary individuals. The first section provides an overview of historical, legal and academic aspects of this phenomenon. The second section explores how psychotherapeutic, psychological and psychiatric theory and practice are adapting to a non-binary model of gender, and the third section considers the body related aspects, from endocrinology to surgery. This work will appeal to a wide readership, from practitioners working with non-binary individuals - including psychologists, surgeons, social workers, nurses, psychiatrists, endocrinologists, psychotherapists and counselors, lawyers, and healthcare workers - to researchers interested in the study of gender identities, to students and gender activists.

We live in a time of uncertainty about relationships. We search for The One but find ourselves staying single because nobody measures up. We long for a happily-ever-after but break-up after break-up leave us bruised and confused. Rewriting the Rules: An Anti Self-Help Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships is a friendly guide through the complicated - and often contradictory - advice that's given about sex and gender, monogamy and conflict, break-up and commitment. It asks questions about the rules of love, such as which to choose from all the rules on offer? Do we stick to the old rules we learnt growing up, or do we try something new and risk being out on our own? And what about the times when the rules we love by seem to make things worse, rather than better? This new edition, updated throughout, considers how the rules are being 'rewritten' in various ways - for example in monogamish and polyamorous relationships, different ways of understanding sex and gender, and new ideas for managing commitment and break-up where economics, communities, or child-care make complete separation impossible. This book considers how the rules are being ‘rewritten’ in various ways, giving you the power to find an approach that best fits your situation.

We live in a time of uncertainty about relationships. We search for The One but find ourselves staying single because nobody measures up. We long for a happily-ever-after but break-up after break-up leave us bruised and confused. Rewriting the Rules: An Anti Self-Help Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships is a friendly guide through the complicated - and often contradictory - advice that's given about sex and gender, monogamy and conflict, break-up and commitment. It asks questions about the rules of love, such as which to choose from all the rules on offer? Do we stick to the old rules we learnt growing up, or do we try something new and risk being out on our own? And what about the times when the rules we love by seem to make things worse, rather than better? This new edition, updated throughout, considers how the rules are being 'rewritten' in various ways - for example in monogamish and polyamorous relationships, different ways of understanding sex and gender, and new ideas for managing commitment and break-up where economics, communities, or child-care make complete separation impossible. This book considers how the rules are being ‘rewritten’ in various ways, giving you the power to find an approach that best fits your situation.

What can psychology teach us about sex?How do different bodies and brains respond sexually?How can we prevent people being stigmatised for their sexuality?The Psychology of Sex takes you on a tour through the different ways that psychologists have created and sustained certain understandings of sex and sexuality. Bearing in mind the subjective nature of sex, the book explores cultural concerns around sexualisation, pornography, and sex addiction, as well as drawing on research from sexual communities and the applied area of sex therapy. When so much of our relationship to sex happens in the mind, The Psychology of Sex shows us how important it is to understand where our ideas about sex come from.

What can psychology teach us about sex?How do different bodies and brains respond sexually?How can we prevent people being stigmatised for their sexuality?The Psychology of Sex takes you on a tour through the different ways that psychologists have created and sustained certain understandings of sex and sexuality. Bearing in mind the subjective nature of sex, the book explores cultural concerns around sexualisation, pornography, and sex addiction, as well as drawing on research from sexual communities and the applied area of sex therapy. When so much of our relationship to sex happens in the mind, The Psychology of Sex shows us how important it is to understand where our ideas about sex come from.

The Palgrave Handbook of the Psychology of Sexuality and Gender combines cutting edge research to provide a thorough overview of all the normative - and many of the less common - sexualities, genders and relationship forms alongside psychological and intersectional areas relating to sexuality and gender.

This book breaks new ground by relating mindfulness to all of the other therapeutic approaches, across all the common presenting problems in counselling & psychotherapy.

 

Mindfulness is increasingly recognised as an effective therapeutic treatment with positive research outcomes evaluating its success. Meg Barker responds to our growing consciousness of mindfulness approaches, considering how its principles can inform everyday therapeutic work. The book:  - covers ways in which mindfulness approaches complement each therapeutic approach, as well as any potential conflicts and tensions that might arise

- spells out how a mindfulness approach would understand - and work with - common presenting issues, including depression, anxiety and addiction - brings together work on mindfulness from across psychotherapy, science, and philosophy

- suggests possible future directions in mindfulness, particularly those which emphasise the social component of suffering.  

This engaging and accessible book will appeal to all counselling and psychotherapy students, as well as any therapist looking to complement their own approach with mindfulness theory and practice. Meg Barker is a senior lecturer in psychology at the Open University.

This book breaks new ground by relating mindfulness to all of the other therapeutic approaches, across all the common presenting problems in counselling & psychotherapy.

 

Mindfulness is increasingly recognised as an effective therapeutic treatment with positive research outcomes evaluating its success. Meg Barker responds to our growing consciousness of mindfulness approaches, considering how its principles can inform everyday therapeutic work. The book:  - covers ways in which mindfulness approaches complement each therapeutic approach, as well as any potential conflicts and tensions that might arise

- spells out how a mindfulness approach would understand - and work with - common presenting issues, including depression, anxiety and addiction - brings together work on mindfulness from across psychotherapy, science, and philosophy

- suggests possible future directions in mindfulness, particularly those which emphasise the social component of suffering.  

This engaging and accessible book will appeal to all counselling and psychotherapy students, as well as any therapist looking to complement their own approach with mindfulness theory and practice. Meg Barker is a senior lecturer in psychology at the Open University.

A cutting-edge text that provides a comprehensive introduction to mental health problems and criminal behaviour, this book explores the link between mental health and criminality and considers the most common and effective therapeutic approaches for working with offenders and victims of crime.

·           Part 1 explores the predominant tensions between forensic and therapeutic agendas;

·           Part 2 considers how criminal and ‘insane’ identities and careers may be considered gendered, classed, culturally and age-dependent experiences, and be related to power and oppression;

·           Part 3 examines issues around sex and sexuality in forensic and therapeutic settings;

·           Part 4 introduces a range of therapeutic approaches for working with offenders and victims of crime;

·           Part 5 covers forensic and therapeutic practices, including programmes for the prevention of both mental health issues and offending.

Edited by an expert team from the Open University and written by a broad range of contributors, this book draws on a wealth of experience in this popular subject area. It will be a key text for students of forensic psychology, counselling and psychotherapy, and for health and social care professionals working in therapeutic and forensic settings.

A cutting-edge text that provides a comprehensive introduction to mental health problems and criminal behaviour, this book explores the link between mental health and criminality and considers the most common and effective therapeutic approaches for working with offenders and victims of crime.

·           Part 1 explores the predominant tensions between forensic and therapeutic agendas;

·           Part 2 considers how criminal and ‘insane’ identities and careers may be considered gendered, classed, culturally and age-dependent experiences, and be related to power and oppression;

·           Part 3 examines issues around sex and sexuality in forensic and therapeutic settings;

·           Part 4 introduces a range of therapeutic approaches for working with offenders and victims of crime;

·           Part 5 covers forensic and therapeutic practices, including programmes for the prevention of both mental health issues and offending.

Edited by an expert team from the Open University and written by a broad range of contributors, this book draws on a wealth of experience in this popular subject area. It will be a key text for students of forensic psychology, counselling and psychotherapy, and for health and social care professionals working in therapeutic and forensic settings.

Mediated Intimacy looks at contemporary sex and relationship advice, exploring how our intimate lives are shaped through different media, from manuals and magazines to television and Twitter. By exploring how intimacy is constructed through different media texts, the authors consider which ideas and practices these changing forms of 'sexpertise' open up, and which they close down.The book reveals the intimate operation of power in mediated advice, how words and images, stories and sound can work to shore up social injustice. It critically engages with the ideas of choice and responsibility in sex self-help, arguing that these can obscure and/or justify oppression, even if they're sometimes experienced as empowering and/or pleasurable.This bold and incisive book provides a radical challenge to the assumptions underlying the sex advice industry, and presents a critical, collaborative and consensual vision for sex advice of the future.

Mediated Intimacy looks at contemporary sex and relationship advice, exploring how our intimate lives are shaped through different media, from manuals and magazines to television and Twitter. By exploring how intimacy is constructed through different media texts, the authors consider which ideas and practices these changing forms of 'sexpertise' open up, and which they close down.The book reveals the intimate operation of power in mediated advice, how words and images, stories and sound can work to shore up social injustice. It critically engages with the ideas of choice and responsibility in sex self-help, arguing that these can obscure and/or justify oppression, even if they're sometimes experienced as empowering and/or pleasurable.This bold and incisive book provides a radical challenge to the assumptions underlying the sex advice industry, and presents a critical, collaborative and consensual vision for sex advice of the future.

'Queer: A Graphic History Could Totally Change the Way You Think About Sex and Gender' ViceActivist-academic Meg-John Barker and cartoonist Jules Scheele illuminate the histories of queer thought and LGBTQ+ action in this groundbreaking non-fiction graphic novel.From identity politics and gender roles to privilege and exclusion, Queer explores how we came to view sex, gender and sexuality in the ways that we do; how these ideas get tangled up with our culture and our understanding of biology, psychology and sexology; and how these views have been disputed and challenged.Along the way we look at key landmarks which shift our perspective of what's 'normal' - Alfred Kinsey's view of sexuality as a spectrum, Judith Butler's view of gendered behaviour as a performance, the play Wicked, or moments in Casino Royale when we're invited to view James Bond with the kind of desiring gaze usually directed at female bodies in mainstream media.Presented in a brilliantly engaging and witty style, this is a unique portrait of the universe of queer thinking.

'An outstanding work' - CN Lester, author of Trans Like MeJoin the creators of Queer: A Graphic History ('Could totally change the way you think about sex and gender' VICE) on an illustrated journey of gender exploration. Is masculinity 'toxic'? Why are public toilets such a political issue? How has feminism changed the available gender roles - and for whom? Why might we all benefit from challenging binary thinking about sex/gender?In this unique illustrated guide, Meg-John Barker and Jules Scheele travel through our shifting understandings of gender across time and space - from ideas about masculinity and femininity, to non-binary and trans genders, to intersecting experiences of gender, race, sexuality, class, disability and more. Tackling current debates and tensions, which can divide communities and even cost lives, Barker and Scheele look to the past and the future to explore how we might all approach gender in more caring and celebratory ways.

'Sexuality delivers the goods, making the history and theory of sexuality downright sexy ... I learned more in one session with this book than I've figured out in a lifetime.' Christine Burns MBE, author of Trans BritainThey're back! Writer Meg-John Barker and artist Jules Scheele once again team up in this cheeky and informative comic-book follow-up to Queer and Gender. Sex is everywhere. It's in the stories we love - and the stories we fear. It defines who we are and our place in society ... at least we're told it ought to.Sex and sexuality can seem like a house of horrors, full of monsters and potential pitfalls. We often live with fear, shame and frustration when it comes to our own sexuality, and with judgement when it comes to others'. Sex advice manuals, debates over sex work and stories of sexual "dysfunction" only add to our anxiety.With compassion, humour, erudition and a touch of the erotic, Meg-John Barker and Jules Scheele shine a light through the darkness and unmask the monsters.'The art introduces a set of reoccurring characters, tongue-in-cheek references to the Scooby-Doo gang, who journey through a haunted house confronting and unmasking the villains: patriarchy, white supremacy, ableism, and capitalism personified ... The sum: accessible, compassionate reading for readers wanting to think more deeply about sex, society, and how they intersect.' Publishers Weekly

'The book we all need for this moment in time.' CN LESTER'An absolute must read' FOX FISHER'A genius book' LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEWMuch of society's thinking operates in a highly rigid and binary manner; something is good or bad, right or wrong, a success or a failure, and so on. Challenging this limited way of thinking, this ground-breaking book looks at how non-binary methods of thought can be applied to all aspects of life, and offer new and greater ways of understanding ourselves and how we relate to others.Using bisexual and non-binary gender experiences as a starting point, this book addresses the key issues with binary thinking regarding our relationships, bodies, emotions, wellbeing and our sense of identity and sets out a range of practices which may help us to think in more non-binary, both/and, or uncertain ways.A truly original and insightful piece, this guide encourages reflection on how we view and understand the world we live in and how we all bend, blur or break society's binary codes.

'Excellent' KATE BORNSTEIN'The compassionate, accessible manual the world has been waiting for' LAURIE PENNYHave you ever questioned your own gender identity? Do you know somebody who is transgender or who identifies as non-binary? Do you ever feel confused when people talk about gender diversity?This down-to-earth guide is for anybody who wants to know more about gender, from its biology, history and sociology, to how it plays a role in our relationships and interactions with family, friends, partners and strangers. It looks at practical ways people can express their own gender, and will help you to understand people whose gender might be different from your own. With activities and points for reflection throughout, this book will help people of all genders engage with gender diversity and explore the ideas in the book in relation to their own lived experiences.

Take a moment to pause... Breathe... And ask yourself, what does self-care mean to you?Times are very tough-in a world that pushes us to go faster, be the best, and get ahead of others, we often forget to focus on ourselves, leaving us with anxiety, anger, burnout, stress, and trauma. In this creative workbook and journal leading mental health pioneers, Alex Iantaffi and Meg-John Barker, provide you with the tools to begin your self-care journey and develop sustainable self-care routines and rituals that work for you. Featuring a diverse range of experiential exercises, activities, and opportunities for reflection, while drawing upon a range of practices and approaches including systemic and existential therapies, Buddhist mindfulness, Pagan ritual, trauma-informed practice, intersectional feminism and more. This book explores self-care in all its forms and covers somatic self-care, plural selves, emotions and feelings, relationships, and care for others.Empowering, illuminating and written with authenticity and honesty throughout-this is a manual for everyone and will help you look after yourself on your path towards happiness and wellbeing.

LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD FINALIST'Essential reading' - THE INDEPENDENT'Vital and insightful' - OWL FISHERWhat does it mean to be non-binary in the 21st Century?Our gender identity is impacted by our personal histories; the cultures, communities and countries we are born into; and the places we go and the people we meet. But the representation of contemporary non-binary identities has been limited, until now.Pushing the narrative around non-binary identities further than ever before, this powerful collection of essays represents the breadth of non-binary lives, across the boundaries of race, class, age, sexuality, faith and more.Leading non-binary people share stories of their intersecting lives; how it feels to be non-binary and neurodiverse, the challenges of being a non-binary pregnant person, what it means to be non-binary within the Quaker community, the joy of reaching gender euphoria.This thought-provoking anthology shows that there is no right or wrong way to be non-binary.

'A goldmine of wisdom' CYNDI DARNELL'Gentle, kind and embracing' JUNO ROCHE'Interesting and engaging' JUSTIN HANCOCKGay, straight, queer, pansexual, demisexual, ace...? Sexuality is complex and diverse, but it doesn't have to be confusing.This down-to-earth guide is the ultimate companion for understanding, accepting and celebrating your sexuality. Written by two internationally renowned authors and therapists, the book explains how sexuality works in terms of our identities, attractions, desires and practices, and explores how it intersects with our personal experiences and the world around us.With activities and reflection points throughout, it offers space to tune into yourself and think deeply about your own sexuality. You'll hear from people across the sexuality spectrum and in different relationship set-ups, and be inspired by the ideas of scholars, activists and practitioners. Sexuality is a vast and wonderful landscape - let this book guide you on your journey!

'Profound and vulnerable. An essential gift for all of us that relate' - Anne MauroWhat do we mean when we say 'relationship'?How do we separate our needs and desires from norms and expectations?How can we approach our relationships with mutuality, care and compassion?This down-to-earth guide is the ultimate companion for anybody who wants to examine their place in the world -- how we relate to ourselves, and others. With considerations of historical, cultural, and developmental contexts; explorations of relationship diversity as it manifests in queerness, the ace and aro spectrum, non-monogamy and neurodivergence ; and a look towards deeper, compassionate, interdependent ways to relate - this book will help people of all ages, backgrounds and identities explore their relational world.