Intersectional Psychology

Aurora Brown, Registered Counsellor
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The podcast that explores psychology’s role in promoting social justice. Because everyone deserves to live with their optimal mental health. Content includes up-to-date peer-reviewed research, interviews with experts and people with lived experience, and a monthly guided mindfulness/relaxation session. Bonus content available weekly on Patreon. We are committed to the Cite Black Women praxis.

  1. MAY 18

    IPCXG0101 Psychology & mental health in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend S01E01 "Josh Just Happens to Live Here!"

    Aurora Brown is joined by Registered Counsellor and Student Clinical Psychologist HuiMei "Lulu" Lu and award-winning actor, singer, director, and vocal coach Richard White to kick off We're All So Broken Inside -- a deep dive into the portrayal of mental health and psychology in the CW musical dramedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Together, they unpack the pilot episode, in which Rebecca Bunch quits her high-powered New York law firm and moves across the country to reconnect with a summer camp ex -- a decision that is, on paper, a terrible idea, and yet somehow completely compelling. So weird, right?! The episode closes with the panel's first Fanon Test ratings for the series, scoring Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Season 1, Episode 1 across all five scales. The verdict? A surprisingly strong opener -- with a few notable caveats.  Connect with Richard on Instagram at @RichardLloydWhite, and check out his LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/richardlloydwhite 🎁 Support the podcast and get exclusive bonus content at Patreon.com/IntersectionalPsychology. 📄 Download a transcript of this episode on IntersectionalPsychology.com. ⏳ Chapter Timestamps 00:00:00 Short introduction to representation of psychology and mental health in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend S01E01 00:01:18 Land acknowledgement 00:01:47 Title credits: Glitter Just Happened to Explode Inside of Me!  00:02:29 Welcome and guest introductions   00:04:48 Content note 00:05:10 "SO WEIRD, RIGHT?!" Orientation to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CXG) 00:10:58 Recapping the plot of CXG S01E01: "Josh Just Happens to Live Here!" 00:14:45 "In that moment it was like everyone was my mom." Summer camp scenes  00:24:46 "When was the last time you were truly happy?" New York City scenes  00:33:31 "I'm hopelessly, desperately in love with..." West Covina  00:36:40 "This is where I live. Yay for me." Office and Home Base scenes  00:47:07 "Ass blood!" The Sexy Getting Ready Song  01:01:33 "To broken people." The party scenes  01:10:21 Rating CXG S01E01 on the Fanon Test  01:30:25 Conclusion: "This is that time to obey the ticking clock of destiny."   01:36:31 End credits Stay connected 🔗 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts 📮 Got feedback or questions? Reach out at @IntersectionalPsychology or IntersectionalPsychologyPod[@]gmail.com 🌈 If this episode resonates, please share it, rate the show, and send us your thoughts.  You can contribute to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund at https://www.pcrf.net/  References Bloom, R. (Writer), Brosh McKenna, A. (Writer), & Webb, M. (Director). (2015, October 12). Josh Just Happens to Live Here! (Season 1, Episode 1) [TV series episode]. In R. Bloom, A. Bosh McKenna, & M. Webb (Executive Producers), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. MMXV CBS Studios; Warner Bros. Entertainment.  Bloom, R., Dolgen, J. & Geier, M. (2015, October 6). Sexy Getting Ready Song [Music Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky-BYK-f154 Bloom, R. & Kurtenbach, J. (2015, October 23). West Covina [Music Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92538NJ0lbE   Bloom, R. & Kurtenbach, J. (2015). West Covina Reprise [Song]. On Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: Original Television Soundtrack (Season 1 - Volume 1). WaterTower Music.   Brogan, C. (2020). "That's a sexist term!": how Crazy Ex-Girlfriend flips mental illness and misogyny. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7, 396–397. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30160-7 Shine, J. (2020). "I'm on My Own Path": Musical Development of the Musical in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015–2019). Music and the Moving Image, 13(3), 15–26. https://doi.org/10.5406/musimoviimag.13.3.0015  Veilleux, J. (2025). The psychology lessons of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. University of Arkansas. https://tempt.uark.edu/the-psychology-lessons-of-crazy-ex-girlfriend/  See Privacy Policy at https://intersectionalpsychology.com/privacy-policy/

    1h 40m

  2. MAY 4

    IP0607 Is economic empowerment the most important route to gender equality?

    Is economic empowerment really the fastest route to gender equality — or have we reduced liberation to a market strategy?  In this episode of Intersectional Psychology, we unpack one of the biggest debates in gender and development: whether increasing women’s economic participation is enough to dismantle inequality.  From microfinance and entrepreneurship to land ownership, migration, climate change, and unpaid care labour, this episode explores the gap between economic inclusion and actual power. We also explore the limits of neoliberal “empowerment,” the persistence of patriarchal power structures, and why representation without structural change can become little more than optics.  🎁 Support the podcast and get exclusive bonus content at Patreon.com/IntersectionalPsychology. In this week's bonus segment, we connect these ideas to current legal debates, including a landmark case before the Supreme Court of the United States on transgender girls in school sports. 📄 Download a transcript of this episode on IntersectionalPsychology.com. ⏳ Chapter Timestamps 00:00:00 Short introduction  00:01:19 Land acknowledgement  00:01:47 Title credits: S06E07 Is economic empowerment the most important route to gender equality?  00:02:20 Welcome and introduction continued  00:03:59 Gender and development: What are we actually talking about?  00:06:25 Neoliberal feminism: When empowerment comes with fine print  00:08:34 Agriculture, migration, and the multiple layers of exclusion  00:10:41 Climate change: Gendered, political, and not accidental  00:12:05 Women's issues… or power relations?  00:14:06 So… is economic empowerment the answer?  00:16:00 Beijing Platform: Progress, but not enough  00:17:05 What still needs to change?  00:21:30 End credits  Stay connected 🔗 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts 📮 Got feedback or questions? Reach out at @IntersectionalPsychology or IntersectionalPsychologyPod[@]gmail.com 🌈 If this episode resonates, please share it, rate the show, and send us your thoughts.  You can contribute to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund at https://www.pcrf.net/  References  Arun, S., Annim, S., Bose, U., & Arun, T. (2023) ‘Gendered Financial Behaviour in Ghana: A Comparative Study with South Africa’, In J.A. Peprah et al. (eds.), Financial Sector Development in Ghana. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. Chant, S. & Sweetman, C. (2012). Fixing women or fixing the world? 'Smart economics', efficiency approaches, and gender equality in development’, Gender & Development, 20(3), pp. 517-529. Coles, A., Gray, L., & Momsen, J. (2015). Gender and the environment. In Coles, A., Gray, L., & Momsen, J. (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of gender and development. pp. 151-163. Routledge. Cornwall, A. (2016) ‘Women’s empowerment: What works and why?’, Journal of International Development 28, pp. 342–359. Dineen, K. & Le, Q.V. (2015). The impact of an integrated microcredit program on the empowerment of women and gender equality in rural Vietnam’, The Journal of Developing Areas, 49(1), pp. 23-38. Ellis, A., Manuel, C., & Blackden, C.M. (2006) Gender and Economic Growth in Uganda: Unleashing the Power of Women. Washington: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank. Etale, L. & Simatele, M. (2023) ‘Mapping contradictions within the legal frameworks and cultural norms on women's right to land and agriculture in Western Kenya’, In B.S. Nayak (ed.), Political Economy of Gender and Development in Africa: Mapping Gaps, Conflicts and Representation. pp. 1-19. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. Greed, C. (2015) ‘Gender and urban planning’, In Coles, A., Gray, L., & Momsen, J. (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of gender and development. pp. 207-216. Abingdon: Routledge. Hill Collins, P. (2000). Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment. Abingdon: Routledge. Hunting, G. & Hankivsky, O. (2020) ‘Intersectionality in addressing gender and health inequities: Balancing power and equity in a post-pandemic world’, Global Public Health, 15(8), 1209-1221. Kevane, M. (2015). Gender, power, and politics in rural Africa. In Coles, A., Gray, L., & Momsen, J. (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Gender and Development. pp. 34-47. Abingdon: Routledge. Khan, S.R. & Khan, S.R. (2016) ‘Microcredit in South Asia: Privileging women's perceptions and voices’, Progress in Development Studies, 16(1), 65-80. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1464993415608083 (Accessed 24 September 2024) Kofman, E. & Raghuram, P. (2015) ‘Gendered migrations and global social reproduction’, In Coles, A., Gray, L., & Momsen, J. (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of gender and development. pp. 218-228. Abingdon: Routledge. Nair, M. (2018) ‘Gendered impacts of climate change’, World Development, 108, pp. 27-38. Nayak, B.S. (2023) 'Introduction: Political economy of gender and development in Africa', in Nayak, B.S. (ed.), Political Economy of Gender and Development in Africa: Mapping Gaps, Conflicts and Representation. pp. 1-19. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. Phiri, A.T., Toure, H.M.A.C., Kipkogei, O., Traore, R., Afokpe, P.M.K., & Lamore, A.A. (2022) ‘A review of gender inclusivity in agriculture and natural resources management under the changing climate in sub-Saharan Africa’, Cogent Social Sciences, 8(1) [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2021.2024674 (Accessed 24 September 2024) Posel, D. & Casale, D. (2019) 'Gender and the economy in post-apartheid South Africa: Changes and challenges', Agenda, 33(4), pp. 3-10 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/10130950.2019.1679439 (Accessed 25 September 2024) Rai, S. (2018) ‘Rethinking gender and environmental sustainability’, Global Environmental Politics, 18(2), 67-87. Smith, L. (2018) ‘Decolonizing knowledge: Feminist approaches to development’, Feminist Review, 120(1), 33-49. Soetan, F. & Akanji, B. (2018) 'Conclusion: A centenary of economic development policies -- A gender balance sheet and future strategies', in Soetan, F. & Akanji, B. (eds.) Gender and Development in Nigeria: One Hundred Years of Nationhood. Lanham: Lexington Books. Spring, A. (2015) ‘Women’s roles in urbanization and development’, In Coles, A., Gray, L., & Momsen, J. (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of gender and development. pp. 175-190. Abingdon: Routledge. Thomas-Hope, E. (2015) ‘Gender and sustainable development in the Caribbean’, In Coles, A., Gray, L., & Momsen, J. (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of gender and development. pp. 279-290. Abingdon: Routledge. Varley, A. (2015) ‘Gender, housing, and migration’, In Coles, A., Gray, L., & Momsen, J. (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of gender and development. pp. 144-158. Abingdon: Routledge. Yeboah, T., Arhin, A., Kumi, E., & Owusu, L. (2015) 'Empowering and shaping gender relations? Contesting the microfinance–gender empowerment discourse', Development in Practice, 25(6), pp. 895-908 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2015.1064361 (Accessed 24 September 2024) See Privacy Policy at https://intersectionalpsychology.com/privacy-policy/

    24 min

  3. APR 20

    IP0606 Whose bodies belong in sport?

    Why do some athletes get celebrated for their natural advantages — while others are treated as problems to be solved? In this episode, we explore the case of Caster Semenya to unpack how gender, race, and power shape who is allowed to belong in sport. From international regulations on testosterone to media narratives about “fairness,” Semenya’s story reveals how institutions continue to police bodies that don’t fit narrow definitions of womanhood. But this isn’t just about elite sport. From women of colour on the global stage to transgender girls in school athletics, similar arguments about biology and fairness are being used to justify exclusion — often targeting those already marginalised. This episode asks: Who gets to define “fairness” in sport? Why are some bodies scrutinised while others are celebrated? And what are the psychological consequences of being treated as a problem rather than a person? This is a conversation about sport — but also about belonging, identity, and the systems that decide who counts.  🎁 Support the podcast and get exclusive bonus content at Patreon.com/IntersectionalPsychology. In this week's bonus segment, we connect these ideas to current legal debates, including a landmark case before the Supreme Court of the United States on transgender girls in school sports. 📄 Download a transcript of this episode on IntersectionalPsychology.com. ⏳ Chapter Timestamps | 00:00:00 Short introduction  | 00:00:57 Land acknowledgement | 00:01:25 Title credits: Whose bodies belong in sport?  | 00:01:49 Welcome and introduction continued  | 00:04:18 The single, shallow story  | 00:06:22 Institutionalised gender policing  | 00:09:23 Human rights, not just sports  | 00:11:30 Historical echoes: Sarah Baartman   | 00:13:48 Women's sport and media silence  | 00:16:24 Queer visibility and resistance  | 00:18:12 Representation as power | 00:22:27 End credits Stay connected 🔗 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts 📮 Got feedback or questions? Reach out at @IntersectionalPsychology or IntersectionalPsychologyPod[@]gmail.com 🌈 If this episode resonates, please share it, rate the show, and send us your thoughts.  You can contribute to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund at https://www.pcrf.net/  References Adichie, C.N. (2009) 'The danger of a single story', TED Global, July [online]. Available at: https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story/transcript (Accessed 7 July 2024) AFP Newswire (2024) 'European rights court to make final decision on Olympic champion Semenya', France 24, 14th May [online]. Available at: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240514-european-rights-court-to-make-final-decision-on-olympic-champion-semenya (Accessed 7 July 2024)  Andrews, G. (2021) 'Queer South African vloggers use YouTube to build communities and challenge social stigma', London School of Economics and Political Science, 10th March [online]. Available at: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2021/03/10/queer-south-african-vloggers-youtube-build-community-challenge-social-stigma-homophobia/ (Accessed 7 July 2024)  ATAF Editors. (2018) "Semenya storms to Commonwealth and South African 1500m record in Gold Coast", Athletics Africa, 10th April [online]. Available at: https://www.athletics.africa/news/africa/rsa/semenya-storms-to-commonwealth-and-south-african-1500m-record-in-gold-coast-13819 (Accessed 16 November 2024) Athletics South Africa. (2018) "Semenya, Manyonga win Diamond League titles in Zurich", Athletics Africa, 1st September [online]. Available at: https://www.athletics.africa/news/africa/rsa/semenya-manyonga-win-diamond-league-titles-in-zurich-14660 (Accessed 16 November 2024) Baloyi, C. (2024) "How Caster Semenya assisted Glenrose Xaba to break the marathon record", MSN, 11th November [online]. Available at: https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/how-caster-semenya-assisted-glenrose-xaba-to-break-the-marathon-record/ar-AA1tSMM1 (16 November 2024) Batelaan, K. & Abdel-Shehid, G. (2020) 'On the Eurocentric nature of sex testing: the case of Caster Semenya', Social Identities, 27(2) [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13504630.2020.1816452 (Accessed 7 July 2024) Berman, S. & Taylor, J. (2020) Response to Pape & Pielke's article 'Science, sport, sex, and the case of Caster Semenya', Issues in Science and Technology, XXXVI(2) [online]. Available at: https://issues.org/science-sport-and-sex-pielke-pape-forum/ (Accessed 7 July 2024) Boecker, B. (2024) 'Only 15% of sports news focused on women’s sport last year: New research', Women's Agenda, 24th February [online]. Available at: https://womensagenda.com.au/life/sport/only-15-of-sports-news-focused-on-womens-sport-last-year-new-research/ (Accessed 7 July 2024) Bradley, J. (2023) '"Crying, dying, marching": How media inaccurately represents queer South Africans, and what can be done to combat this', Medill Reports, 11th April [online]. Available at: https://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/crying-dying-marching-how-media-inaccurately-represents-queer-south-africans-and-what-can-be-done-to-combat-this/ (Accessed 7 July 2024) Burnett, C. (2019) 'South African Newspapers’ Constructions of the Caster Semenya Saga through Political Cartoons', South African Review of Sociology, 50(2), pp. 62-84 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/21528586.2019.1699440 (Accessed 7 July 2024) Byerly, C.M. (2010) 'Opinion: Inferential homophobia and the news discourse on Caster Semenya', Gender & Media Diversity Journal: Gender, Media and Sport, 7, pp. 118–121 [online]. Available at: https://genderlinks.org.za/wp-content/uploads/imported/articles/attachments/10421_inferential_homophobia_and_the_news_discourse_on_caster_semenya.pdf (Accessed 7 July 2024) Carp, S. (2024) 'Paris 2024 sports director promises first gender-equal Olympics but says "more work to be done"', Sports Pro Media, 10th April [online]. Available at: https://www.sportspromedia.com/decision-makers/paris-2024-olympics-gender-parity-equality-male-female-athletes-aurelie-merle/ (Accessed 7 July 2024) Collison, C. (2017) 'Queer people fight for fair representation in the media', Mail & Guardian, 6th April [online]. Available at: https://mg.co.za/article/2017-04-06-00-queer-people-fight-for-fair-representation-in-the-media/ (Accessed 7 July 2024) Darvin, L. (2023) 'Media Coverage For Women’s Sports Has Nearly Tripled In Five Years, According To New Research', Forbes, 31st October [online]. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lindseyedarvin/2023/10/31/media-coverage-for-womens-sports-has-nearly-tripled-in-five-years-according-to-new-research/ (Accessed 7 July 2024) Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. (2024) 'Government supports Caster Semenya in legal battle, South African Government, 15th May [online]. Available at: https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/government-supports-caster-semenya-legal-battle (Accessed 7 July 2024) Engelbrecht, L. (2022) “Caster Semenya and wife Violet celebrate 'miracle' baby on third birthday”, News24, 6th July [online]. Available at: https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/celebrities/news/caster-semenya-and-wife-violet-celebrate-miracle-baby-on-third-birthday-20220706-2 (Accessed 11 November 2024)  Exarchos, Y. (2024) 'IOC publishes updated Portrayal Guidelines to help ensure gender-equal, fair and inclusive media coverage of Paris 2024', Olympic Broadcasting Services, 6th June [online]. Available at: https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-publishes-updated-portrayal-guidelines-to-help-ensure-gender-equal-fair-and-inclusive-media-coverage-of-paris-2024 (Accessed 7 July 2024) Foster, C.R. (2020) 'White Fragility & the Ruling Against Caster Semenya', Allure [online]. (September 11, 2020) Available at: https://www.allure.com/story/caster-semenya-ruling-op-ed (Accessed 7 July 2024) Gqola, P.D. (2009) Semenya as the 21st century Sarah Baartmann? Loudrastress: afrikan feminist musings and reflections [online]. Available at: http://pumlagqola.wordpress.com/category/sarah-bartmann/ (Accessed 6 July 2024) Hall, S. (2013) 'The work of representation', in Hall, S., Evans, J., and Nixon, S. (eds.) (2013) Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices, 2nd ed. London: Sage Publications, pp. 1-59. John, E. (2023) "The Race to Be Myself by Caster Semenya review – running for her life", The Guardian, 5th November [online]. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/nov/05/the-race-to-be-myself-by-caster-semenya-review-running-for-her-life (Accessed 11 November 2024) Kelly, D. (2019) 'Testosterone: why defining a "normal" level is hard to do', The Conversation, 16th April [online]. Available at: https://theconversation.com/testosterone-why-defining-a-normal-level-is-hard-to-do-113587 (Accessed 7 July 2024) Khumalo, P. (2023) 'Media representation of queerness is key to the integration of queer identities into society', Daily Maverick, 16th April [online]. Available at: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2023-04-16-media-representation-of-queerness-is-key-to-the-integration-of-queer-identities-into-society/ (Accessed 7 July 2024) Mahomed, S. & Dhai, A. (2019) 'Global injustice in sport: The Caster Semenya ordeal – prejudice, discrimination and racial bias', South African Medical Journal, 109(8), pp. 548-551 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2019.v109i8.14152 (Accessed 7 July 2024) Mambula, A. & Abasiekong, E. (2022) 'Achieving gender equity in sports', Sport and Development, 1st August [online]. Available at: https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/achieving-gender-equity-sports (Accessed 7 July 2024) Maphanga, C. (2024) 'Caster Semenya discrimination case gains momentum', SABC News, 9th February [online]. Available at: https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/caster-semenya-discrimination-case-gains-momentum/ (Accessed 7 July 2024) Matlhabe, G. (2024) 'Call for support for Olympic Athlete Caster Semen

    25 min

  4. APR 6

    IP0605 Divine justice or human control? Religion, gender, and power

    In this episode of Intersectional Psychology, we explore how religion shapes our understanding of justice in South Africa, particularly in relation to gender. From early moral teachings about "right" and "wrong", to the ways religious doctrine influences law, relationships, and social norms, faith plays a far more political role than it often admits. Drawing on personal experience, psychological insight, and feminist and decolonial perspectives, this episode unpacks both the liberatory and harmful roles religion can play. This is not a conversation about whether religion is "good" or "bad". It's about asking a more uncomfortable question: When religion speaks about justice — who is it actually protecting?  🎁 Support the podcast and get exclusive bonus content at Patreon.com/IntersectionalPsychology. ⏳ Chapter Timestamps | 00:00:00 Short introduction  | 00:01:46 Land acknowledgement  | 00:02:14 Title credits: Gender, power, and the very selective pursuit of justice   | 00:02:39 Welcome and introduction continued  | 00:05:43 How religion influences the pursuit of justice  | 00:07:44 When religion does promote justice (Yes, it happens... Sometimes)  | 00:10:28 Religion as a tool for gender justice  | 00:12:44 When religion undermines justice  | 00:14:11 Doctrine, power, and the body  | 00:17:07 Religion, politics, and the post-apartheid gap  | 00:18:18 Where do we go from here?   | 00:23:02 End credits Stay connected 🔗 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts 📮 Got feedback or questions? Reach out at @IntersectionalPsychology or IntersectionalPsychologyPod[@]gmail.com You can contribute to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund at https://www.pcrf.net/  See Privacy Policy at https://intersectionalpsychology.com/privacy-policy/

    26 min

  5. MAR 16

    IP0604 Femicide nation: The psychology of gender-based violence

    Content Note: This episode discusses gender-based violence and femicide. Please take care of yourself while listening.  Gender-based violence is often described as a crisis. But what if it’s also a system? In this episode of Intersectional Psychology, we examine how patriarchal ideology helps produce and sustain gender-based violence in South Africa. From early childhood socialisation to cultural practices, institutional failures, and historical inequalities, violence against women does not emerge in isolation — it grows out of deeply embedded power structures. The episode also examines the profound psychological, social, and economic consequences of domestic violence for survivors, families, and communities. Finally, we explore what research tells us about prevention: why community-driven interventions are often more effective than isolated policy responses, and what it might take to dismantle the systems that allow gender-based violence to persist. Because ending gender-based violence requires more than responding to individual acts of harm. It requires confronting the structures that make that harm possible. 🎁 Support the podcast and get exclusive bonus content at Patreon.com/IntersectionalPsychology. 🌈 If this episode resonates, please share it, rate the show, and send us your thoughts.  📄 Download a transcript of this episode on IntersectionalPsychology.com. ⏳ Chapter Timestamps | 00:00:00 Short introduction  | 00:01:09 Land acknowledgement | 00:01:37 Title credits: Femicide nation: The psychology of gender-based violence  | 00:02:01 Welcome and introduction continued  | 00:07:02 Patriarchy: Not just an individual problem | 00:09:57 How violence gets normalised early  | 00:12:29 "Boys will be boys" and other dangerous myths  | 00:16:40 Intersectionality: Violence has a history  | 00:19:36 What violence does to people  | 00:21:29 What actually works  | 00:24:21 Dismantling patriarchy is prevention  | 00:27:47 Conclusion  | 00:31:08 End credits Stay connected 🔗 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts 📮 Got feedback or questions? Reach out at @IntersectionalPsychology or IntersectionalPsychologyPod[@]gmail.com You can contribute to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund at https://www.pcrf.net/  References Gqola, P.D. (2015) Rape: A SA Nightmare. Johannesburg: MF Books. Gqola, P.D. (2021) Female Fear Factory: Gender and Patriarchy Under Racial Capitalism. Johannesburg: MF Books. Pretorius, L. (2025). South Africa declared gender-based violence a national disaster. But how will frontline workers be kept safe? The Conversation [online]. December 9, 2025. Available at: https://theconversation.com/south-africa-declared-gender-based-violence-a-national-disaster-but-how-will-frontline-workers-be-kept-safe-271323  Ramaphosa, C. (2025). Violence against women is a national disaster that demands national action. South African Government [online]. December 8, 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.za/blog/violence-against-women-national-disaster-demands-national-action  Rasethaba, L. (dir.) (2018) The People vs. Patriarchy. MTV South Africa [online]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAoPFeObqe4 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Uguru, H. (2025). South Africa finally declares GBV a national disaster. The New Humanitarian [online]. December 2, 2025. Available at: https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2025/12/02/south-africa-finally-declares-gbv-national-disaster  See Privacy Policy at https://intersectionalpsychology.com/privacy-policy/

    34 min

  6. MAR 2

    IP0603 Patriarchy, Gender-Based Violence, and the Architecture of Fear in South Africa

    Content Note: This episode discusses gender-based violence, rape culture, and femicide. Please take care of yourself while listening. South Africa doesn’t just have a “violence problem.” It has a patriarchy problem. In this episode, Aurora unpacks how gender-based violence is sustained — not only through individual perpetrators, but through systems: colonial legacies, racial capitalism, religious discourse, media narratives, workplace hierarchies, and everyday gender socialisation. 🎁 Support the podcast and get exclusive bonus content at Patreon.com/IntersectionalPsychology. 🌈 If this episode resonates, please share it, rate the show, and send us your thoughts.  📄 Download a transcript of this episode on IntersectionalPsychology.com. ⏳ Chapter Timestamps | 00:00:00 Content note  | 00:00:24 Pre-credit teaser  | 00:02:08 Land acknowledgement | 00:02:36 Title credits: Patriarchy, gender-based violence, and the architecture of fear in South Africa  | 00:03:00 Welcome and introduction | 00:04:53 Patriarchy as a system, not a personality flaw | 00:06:14 “#MenAreTrash” and why “#NotAllMen” misses the point | 00:08:58 Toxic gendering starts early — and it stays loyal  | 00:11:05 Colonial patriarchy vs African patriarchy: a false binary | 00:14:28 Calling out offenders: Justice, risk, and survival | 00:17:37 Religion: Tool of control or site of resistance?  | 00:24:16 Patriarchal institutions and structures | 00:31:34 Media, fear, and the psychology of spectacle  | 00:35:11 GBV as a racial and class phenomenon  | 00:39:08 What do we do with all this? | 00:43:00 End credits Stay connected 🔗 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts 📮 Got feedback or questions? Reach out at @IntersectionalPsychology or IntersectionalPsychologyPod[@]gmail.com You can contribute to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund at https://www.pcrf.net/  References  Ademiluka, S.O. (2018) 'Patriarchy and Women Abuse: Perspectives from Ancient Israel and Africa', Old Testament Essays, 31(2), pp. 339-362 [online]. Available at: https://scielo.org.za/scielo.php?pid=S1010-99192018000200004&script=sci_abstract (Accessed 21 July 2024) Adisa, T.A., Cooke, F.L. and Iwowo, V. (2020) 'Mind your attitude: the impact of patriarchy on women’s workplace behaviour', Career Development International, 25(2), pp. 146-164 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-07-2019-0183 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Akala, B.M. (2018) 'Challenging Gender Equality in SA Transformation Policies - a Case of the White Paper: A Programme for the Transformation of Higher Education', SA Journal of Higher Education, 32(3), pp. 226-48. Available at: https://doi.org/10.20853/32-3-1521 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Bhana, D., Moosa, S., Xu, Y., and Emilsen, K. (2022) 'Men in early childhood education and care: on navigating a gendered terrain', European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 30(4), pp. 543–556 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2022.2074070 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Boonzaier, F. (2014) 'Talking against dominance. SA women resisting dominant discourse in narratives of violence', in Lafrance, M.N. and McKenzie-Mohr, S. (eds.), Creating counter-stories: Women voicing resistance, pp. 102–120. Routledge Press. Boonzaier, F. (2017) 'The Life and death of Anene Booysen: Colonial discourse, GBV and media representations', SA Journal of Psychology, 47(4), pp. 470–481 [online]. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0081246317737916 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Boonzaier, F.A. (2023) 'Spectacularising narratives on femicide in South Africa: A decolonial feminist analysis', Current Sociology, 71(1), pp. 78-96 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/00113921221097157 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Burchardt, M. (2018) 'Saved from hegemonic masculinity? Charismatic Christianity and men’s responsibilisation in South Africa', Current Sociology, 66(1), pp. 110-127 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0011392117702429 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Canham, H. and Maier, C. (2018) 'Women bankers in black and white: exploring raced, classed and gendered coalitions', Social Dynamics, 44(2), pp. 322–340. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/02533952.2018.1487749 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Coetzee, A. and du Toit, L. (2018) 'Facing the sexual demon of colonial power: Decolonising sexual violence in South Africa', European Journal of Women’s Studies, 25(2), pp. 214-227 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1350506817732589 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Dawood, Q. and Seedat-Khan, M. (2022) 'The unforgiving work environment of black African women domestic workers in a post-apartheid South Africa', Development in Practice, 33(1), pp. 168-179 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2022.2115977 (Accessed 21 July 2024) du Toit, L. (2012) 'Sexual specificity, rape law reform and the feminist quest for justice', SA Journal of Philosophy, 31(3), pp. 465–483 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/02580136.2012.10751788 (Accessed 21 July 2024) du Toit, L. (2014a) 'Shifting Meanings of Postconflict Sexual Violence in South Africa', Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 40(1), pp. 101-123 [online]. Available at: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/676895 (Accessed 21 July 2024) du Toit, L. (2014b) 'Human rights discourse: friend or foe of African women's sexual freedoms?', Acta Academica, 46(4), pp. 49-70. Dube, B. (2019) 'The Exclusion of Black Men in SA Gender Discourses: Rethinking Gender, Patriarchy and Male Privilege', Africa Insight, 49(1), pp. 37-51. Dunham, C.C. and Flores-Yeffal, N.Y. (2019) 'Household Decision-Making Between Older Adult Women and Men in the Western Cape of South Africa', Gender Issues 36(3), pp. 253–268 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12147-018-9220-6 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Elboubekri, A. (2015) 'Is patriarchy an Islamic legacy? A reflection on Fatima Mernissi's Dreams of Trespass and Najat El Hachmi's The Last Patriarch', Journal of Multicultural Discourses, 10(1), pp. 25-48 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/17447143.2015.1008496 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Fakunmoju, S.B., Abrefa-Gyan, T., Maphosa, N. and Gutura, P. (2021) 'Rape Myth Acceptance: Gender and Cross-National Comparisons Across the United States, South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria', Sexuality & Culture, 25(1), pp. 18–38 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-020-09755-z (Accessed 21 July 2024) Fakunmoju, S.B. and Rasool, S. (2018) 'Exposure to Violence and Beliefs About Violence Against Women Among Adolescents in Nigeria and South Africa', Reproductive Health in Sub-Saharan Africa, 8(4), pp. 1-17 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018817591 (Accessed 21 July 2024)  Gqola, P.D. (2015) Rape: A SA Nightmare. Johannesburg: MF Books. Gqola, P.D. (2021) Female Fear Factory: Gender and Patriarchy Under Racial Capitalism. Johannesburg: MF Books. Gouws, A. (2022) 'Rape is endemic in South Africa. Why the ANC government keeps missing the mark', The Conversation [online]. 4 August 2022. Available at: https://theconversation.com/rape-is-endemic-in-south-africa-why-the-anc-government-keeps-missing-the-mark-188235 (Accessed 23 July 2024) Haddad, B. (2004) 'The Manyano Movement in South Africa: Site of Struggle, Survival, and Resistance', Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity, 61, Religion & Spirituality, pp. 4-13 [online]. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/4066591 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Inggs, J. (2021) 'Weak or Wily? Girls' Voices in Tellings and Retellings of African Folktales for Children', Children's Literature Education, 52(3), pp. 342–356 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10583-020-09421-w (Accessed 21 July 2024) Jakobsen, W. T. and Pillay, M. N. (2022) 'Re-membering Tutu’s liberation theology: Toward gender justice from theo-ethical feminist perspectives', Anglican Theological Review, 104(3), pp. 330-340 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/00033286221079226 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Jarvis, J. (2020) 'Empathetic-Reflective-Dialogical Restorying for decolonisation: an emancipatory teaching-learning strategy for Religion Education', British Journal of Religious Education, 43(1), pp. 68–79 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2020.1831439 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Khelghat-Doost, H. and Sibly, S. (2020) 'The Impact of Patriarchy on Women's Political Participation', International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 10(3), pp. 396–409 [online]. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v10-i3/7058 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Lecoutere, E. and Wuyts, E. (2021) 'Confronting the Wall of Patriarchy: Does Participatory Intrahousehold Decision Making Empower Women in Agricultural Households?', Journal of Development Studies, 57(6), pp. 882-905 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2020.1849620 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Mayeza, E., Bhana, D. and Mulqueeny, D. (2021) 'Normalising violence? Girls and sexuality in a SA high school', Journal of Gender Studies, 31(2), pp. 165-177 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2021.1881460 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Mayson, C. (2004) 'A New Re-Formation: Religion, the State and Gender', Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity, 61, Religion & Spirituality, pp. 53-59 [online]. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/4066600 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Mfecane, S. (2020) 'Decolonising Men and Masculinities Research in South Africa', SA Review of Sociology, 51(2), pp. 1-15 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/21528586.2020.1803763 (Accessed 21 July 2024) Mitchell, L.M. (2023) 'Hashtag Activism and #MeToo in South Africa: Mobilisation, Impact, and Intersectional Feminism', in Cheema, I.S. (ed.), The Other #MeToos. New York: Oxford Academic [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197619872.003.0008 (Accessed 23 J

    46 min

  7. FEB 16

    IP0602 Masculinities, Power and the Myths of the "Good Guy"

    Content Note: This episode discusses masculinity, power, and gender-based violence at a structural and analytical level. There are no graphic descriptions, but some themes may be challenging. Please take care of yourself while listening. Masculinity is often treated as a personality trait — something individual men have or don’t have, something that can be improved with better intentions. In this episode of Intersectional Psychology, we take a different approach. Drawing on feminist, decolonial, and African scholarship, we explore masculinity as a social structure — a hierarchy that organises power, normalises silence, and continues to shape institutions, relationships, and everyday life, even when men see themselves as “good people.” 🎁 Support the podcast and get exclusive bonus content at Patreon.com/IntersectionalPsychology. 🌈 If this episode resonates, please share it, rate the show, and send us your thoughts.  📄 Download a transcript of this episode on IntersectionalPsychology.com. ⏳ Chapter Timestamps 00:00:00 Pre-credit teaser  00:01:42 Land acknowledgement 00:02:10 Title credits: Masculinities, power, and the myths of the "Good Guy"? 00:02:32 Welcome and introduction 00:04:11 What do we mean by "masculinity"? 00:05:31 Hegemonic masculinity: The gold standard? 00:07:38 Complicit masculinity: The "good guys"? 00:09:44 Marginalised masculinity: Power without privilege 00:11:54 Subordinate masculinity: Policed and punished 00:13:59 Ratele and the decolonial turn 00:15:46 Violence, gender, and accountability 00:17:16 Alternative masculinities: Yes, they exist 00:21:30 End credits Stay connected 🔗 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts 📮 Got feedback or questions? Reach out at @IntersectionalPsychology or IntersectionalPsychologyPod[@]gmail.com You can contribute to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund at https://www.pcrf.net/  See Privacy Policy at https://intersectionalpsychology.com/privacy-policy/

    24 min

  8. FEB 2

    IP0601 African vs Anglo-American Feminism: Decolonising Power

    What happens when feminism is treated as universal — despite emerging from very unequal histories and contexts? In this episode of Intersectional Psychology, I compare Anglo-American feminism and African feminisms, asking what gets lost when Western feminist frameworks are exported as the default lens for understanding gender, power, and justice. Drawing on African feminist scholarship and decolonial theory, this episode explores how feminism looks different when it is shaped by colonial histories, economic inequality, community-based survival, and collective responsibility — rather than liberal individualism. 🎁 Support the podcast and get exclusive bonus content at Patreon.com/IntersectionalPsychology. 🌈 If this episode resonates, please share it, rate the show, and send us your thoughts.  📄 Download a transcript of this episode on IntersectionalPsychology.com. ⏳ Chapter Timestamps 00:00:00 Pre-credit teaser  00:01:22 Land acknowledgement  00:01:50 Title credits  00:02:17 Introduction to African vs Anglo-American feminism 00:04:18 Anglo-American feminism: Who is it really for?  00:07:42 The problem with universal womanhood  00:09:46 African feminism: Context is not optional  00:13:15 Why Anglo-American feminism still falls short  00:16:18 Intersectionality: Why this is personal  00:17:55 South Africa, apartheid, and compounded oppression  00:22:28 Why African feminism matters  00:26:32 End credits Stay connected 🔗 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts 📮 Got feedback or questions? Reach out at @IntersectionalPsychology or IntersectionalPsychologyPod[@]gmail.com You can contribute to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund at https://www.pcrf.net/  References  Ahmed, S. (2000). Whose Counting? Feminist Theory, 1(1), pp. 97-103 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/14647000022229083 (Accessed 10 July 2024) Bakare-Yusuf, B. (2003). Beyond Determinism: The Phenomenology of African Female Existence. Feminist Africa, 2 [online]. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/48724973 (Accessed 10 July 2024) Bakare-Yusuf, B. (2004) '"Yoruba's don't do gender": A critical review of Oyeronke Oyěwùmí's The Invention of Women: Making an African Sense of Western Gender Discourses', in Arnfred et al. (2004) African Gender Scholarship: Concepts, Methodologies and Paradigms. Dakar: Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa. Camminga, B. (2020) 'Disregard and danger: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and the voices of trans (and cis) African feminists', The Sociological Review, 68(4), pp. 817-833. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0038026120934695 (Accessed 10 July 2024) Carrera-Fernández, M. V., & DePalma, R. (2020). Feminism will be trans-inclusive or it will not be: Why do two cis-hetero woman educators support transfeminism? The Sociological Review, 68(4), pp. 745-762 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0038026120934686 (Accessed 10 July 2024) Connell, R.W. (1985) 'Theorising gender', Sociology, 19(2), pp. 260-272. Crenshaw, K. (1991) 'Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Colour', Stanford Law Review, 43(6), pp. 1241-1299 [online]. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1229039 (Accessed 10 July 2024) DiAngelo, R. (2018) White fragility: why it's so hard to talk to white people about racism. Boston: Beacon Press. Dosekun, S. (2019) 'African feminisms', in Yacob-Haliso, O. & Falola, T. (eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of African Women’s Studies [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77030-7_58-1 (Accessed 10 July 2024) Eddo-Lodge, R. (2017) Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People about Race. London: Bloomsbury Circus. Garutsa, T.C. & Nekhwevha, F. (2019) 'Decreasing Reliance of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Rural Households: The Case of Khambashe, Eastern Cape, South Africa', Africa Insight, 49(1) [online]. Available at: https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ai/article/view/188718 (Accessed 10 July 2024) Gqola, P.D. (2001) 'Defining people: Analysing power, language and representation in metaphors of the New South Africa', Transformation 47, pp. 94-106 [online]. Available at: https://www.africabib.org/htp.php?RID=P00021717 (Accessed 10 July 2024) Gqola, P.D. (2005) 'Through Zanele Muholi's eyes: re/imagining ways of seeing Black lesbians', in Tamale, S. (ed.) African Sexualities: A Reader. Wantage: Pambazuka Press. pp. 622-629. Hill Collins, P. (1996) What's in a Name? Womanism, Black Feminism, and Beyond', The Black Scholar, 26(1), pp. 9-17 [online]. Paradigm Publishers. Available at: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41068619 (Accessed 10 July 2024) Kisiang'ani, E.N.W. (2004) 'Decolonising Gender Studies in Africa', in Arnfred et al. (2004) African Gender Scholarship: Concepts, Methodologies and Paradigms. Dakar: Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa. Lewis, D. (2004) 'African Gender Research and Postcoloniality: Legacies and Challenges', in Arnfred et al. (2004) African Gender Scholarship: Concepts, Methodologies and Paradigms. Dakar: Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa. Lewis, D. (2001) 'Introduction: African Feminisms', in Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity, 2001, No. 50, African Feminisms One, pp. 4-10 [online]. Taylor & Francis. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/4066401 (Accessed 10 July 2024) Lewis, D. (2011) 'Representing African sexualities', in Tamale, S. (ed.) African Sexualities: A reader, pp. 199-216. Wantage: Pambazuka Press. Mazibuko, M. (2020) 'Being a Feminist in the Fallist Movement in Contemporary South Africa', Critical Times, 3(3), pp. 488–495 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1215/26410478-8662368 (Accessed 10 July 2024) Mbugua, A. (2011) 'Gender dynamics: a transsexual overview', in Tamale, S. (ed.) African Sexualities: A Reader, pp. 238-246. Wantage: Pambazuka Press. Msimang, S. (2002) 'Introduction: African Feminisms II: Reflections on Politics Made Personal', Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity, 54, pp. 3-15 [online]. Taylor & Francis. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/4548069 (Accessed 10 July 2024) Nkealah, N. (2017) 'Cameline Agency: A New Agenda for Social Transformation in South African Women’s Writing 2012–2014', Current Writing: Text and Reception in Southern Africa, 29(2), pp. 121-130. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1013929X.2017.1347426 (Accessed 10 July 2024) Oyěwùmí, O. (2004) 'Conceptualising Gender: Eurocentric Foundations of Feminist Concepts and the Challenge of African Epistemologies', in Arnfred et al. (2004) African Gender Scholarship: Concepts, Methodologies and Paradigms. Dakar: Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa. Oyěwùmí, O. (1997) The Invention of Women: Making an African sense of Western gender discourses. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. Saad, L.F. (2020) Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor. Naperville: Sourcebooks. See Privacy Policy at https://intersectionalpsychology.com/privacy-policy/

    29 min
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The podcast that explores psychology’s role in promoting social justice. Because everyone deserves to live with their optimal mental health. Content includes up-to-date peer-reviewed research, interviews with experts and people with lived experience, and a monthly guided mindfulness/relaxation session. Bonus content available weekly on Patreon. We are committed to the Cite Black Women praxis.

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    Aurora Brown, Registered Counsellor
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
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    Explicit
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    Intersectional Psychology