Meg-John Barker

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Meg-John Barker
Bisexuality and mental health - Meg-John Barker.jpg
Meg-John Barker speaks about bisexuality in 2016
Born (1974-06-23) 23 June 1974 (age 49)
Hull, England
NationalityBritish
EducationPhD Psychology, University of Nottingham; MA Psychotherapy, University of Sheffield
Occupation(s)writer, writing mentor, creative consultant, and speaker
Years active2003–present
Known forwriter on queer, [1] sexuality, [2] relationships, [3] and gender. [4] Authority on open non-monogamy, bisexuality, non-binary gender, and BDSM
Website www.rewriting-the-rules.com

Meg-John Barker (born 23 June 1974) is a writer, writing mentor, creative consultant, speaker, and independent scholar. They have written a number of anti self-help books on the topics of relationships, sex, and gender, as well as the graphic non-fiction books, Queer: A Graphic History and Gender: A Graphic Guide, and the book The Psychology of Sex. They are the writer of the relationships book and blog Rewriting the Rules, and they have a podcast with sex educator Justin Hancock.

Contents

Barker is a full-time writer, as well as being a writing mentor, creative consultant, speaker, and independent scholar. Barker holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Nottingham, and worked for two decades as an academic psychologist at the Open University in the United Kingdom, and as a psychotherapist specialising in sex, gender, and relationships.

Barker has written and/or edited some of the first academic collections on open non-monogamy, bisexuality, non-binary gender and BDSM. They were editor of the journal Psychology & Sexuality from 2010 to 2017, and lead author of The Bisexuality Report and the BACP document on Gender, Sexual, and Relationship Diversity.

Barker's pronouns are singular they/them.

Early life and education

Barker was born in Hull, England, on 23 June 1974, grew up in Bradford, and holds a PhD [5] in Psychology from the University of Nottingham. After teaching at a number of higher education institutions, Barker settled at the Open University in 2008, having also qualified with an MA in Psychotherapy from the University of Sheffield and trained at the major NHS sexual and relationship clinic at Guy's Hospital for several years.

Recent career

Barker's main area of expertise is human sexuality, gender and romantic relationships, with a focus on the experiences of people in sexual, gender and relationship communities located outside the mainstream – particularly polyamorous, [6] kink, [7] non-binary [8] and bisexual communities. Theoretically their work draws on social constructionism, existentialism and Buddhist philosophy. Barker, with co-author Darren Langdridge, has published two edited collections on sadomasochism [9] and on non-monogamy, [10] and a recent book for mental health professionals (co-authored with Christina Richards). Barker founded the journal of Psychology & Sexuality [11] together with Langdridge in 2010, and they co-edited it until 2017. Barker co-organized the Critical Sexology [12] series from 2006 to 2018, and BiReCon [13] (a biennial research conference which takes place prior to the annual BiCon event).

Writing

Barker coined the phrase ‘anti self-help’ to describe self-help materials which locate the struggles that people have in their wider societal structures and cultural messages rather than in them as individuals. [14] Barker's anti self-help books aim to help people to navigate their relationship with wider sociocultural understandings, rather than viewing themselves as a problem that needs fixing. They have produced books applying this approach to relationships, [15] sex (with Justin Hancock), [16] and gender (with Alex Iantaffi), [17] as well as producing graphic-novel style non-fiction books and zines on queer, [18] mindfulness and other topics, [19] and a podcast on sex and relationships. [20]

Consulting

Barker has a background in psychotherapy, and led production on the Open University module Counselling: Exploring Fear and Sadness. [21] They are trained in existential psychotherapy and mindfulness with books on the latter [22] developing the approaches of social mindfulness and mindful sex and relationship therapy (MSRT). [23] Their practice now takes the form of peer-to-peer consulting and mentoring with writers, practitioners, activists, and organizers, with a focus on relationships with self, others, and the wider world.

Activism

Barker's activism in the area of LGBT&Q rights has been recognized by placement in the top 40 of The Independent on Sunday newspaper's Pink List, [24] and Rainbow List. [25] Barker was one of the founder members of BiUK, the organization for bisexual research and activism. [26] This group wrote the international guidelines for academics studying bisexuality (published in Journal of Bisexuality ) and produced The Bisexuality Report which informs UK policy and practice regarding bisexuality based on the evidence regarding biphobia, bisexual invisibility, and mental health [27] In 2013, Barker took home an Erotic Award in the academic category for the book Rewriting the Rules, as reported in Times Higher Education . [28] Their current activism focuses on trans and non-binary communities. [29]

Works

Books (as author)

Books (as editor)

Reports

Selected articles and book chapters

Journal editorships

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romantic orientation</span> Classification of a persons romantic attraction towards others

Romantic orientation, also called affectional orientation, is the classification of the sex or gender which a person experiences romantic attraction towards or is likely to have a romantic relationship with. The term is used alongside the term "sexual orientation", as well as being used alternatively to it, based upon the perspective that sexual attraction is only a single component of a larger concept.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asexuality</span> Lack of sexual attraction to others

Asexuality is the lack of sexual attraction to others, or low or absent interest in or desire for sexual activity. It may be considered a sexual orientation or the lack thereof. It may also be categorized more widely, to include a broad spectrum of asexual sub-identities.

Heteronormativity is the concept that heterosexuality is the preferred or normal sexual orientation. It assumes the gender binary and that sexual and marital relations are most fitting between people of opposite sex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pansexuality</span> Sexual attraction to people regardless of sex or gender identity

Pansexuality is sexual, romantic, or emotional attraction towards people of all genders, or regardless of their sex or gender identity. Pansexual people might refer to themselves as gender-blind, asserting that gender and sex are not determining factors in their romantic or sexual attraction to others.

Sexual identity refers to one's self-perception in terms of romantic or sexual attraction towards others, though not mutually exclusive, and can be different to romantic identity. Sexual identity may also refer to sexual orientation identity, which is when people identify or dis-identify with a sexual orientation or choose not to identify with a sexual orientation. Sexual identity and sexual behavior are closely related to sexual orientation, but they are distinguished, with identity referring to an individual's conception of themselves, behavior referring to actual sexual acts performed by the individual, and sexual orientation referring to romantic or sexual attractions toward persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, to both sexes or more than one gender, or to no one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Non-heterosexual</span> Sexual orientation other than heterosexual

Non-heterosexual is a word for a sexual orientation or sexual identity that is not heterosexual. The term helps define the "concept of what is the norm and how a particular group is different from that norm". Non-heterosexual is used in feminist and gender studies fields as well as general academic literature to help differentiate between sexual identities chosen, prescribed and simply assumed, with varying understanding of implications of those sexual identities. The term is similar to queer, though less politically charged and more clinical; queer generally refers to being non-normative and non-heterosexual. Some view the term as being contentious and pejorative as it "labels people against the perceived norm of heterosexuality, thus reinforcing heteronormativity". Still, others say non-heterosexual is the only term useful to maintaining coherence in research and suggest it "highlights a shortcoming in our language around sexual identity"; for instance, its use can enable bisexual erasure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dossie Easton</span> American author and family therapist

Dorothy "Dossie" Easton, who has also written under the name Scarlet Woman, is an American author and family therapist based in San Francisco, California. She is polyamorous and lives in West Marin, California.

<i>The Ethical Slut</i> 1997 book by Dossie Easton and Janet Hardy

The Ethical Slut is a self-help book about non-monogamy written by Dossie Easton and Janet Hardy. In the book, Easton and Hardy discuss non-monogamy as a concept and a practice, and explore sexual practices and common challenges in non-monogamous relationships.

Non-monogamy is an umbrella term for every practice or philosophy of non-dyadic intimate relationship that does not strictly hew to the standards of monogamy, particularly that of having only one person with whom to exchange sex, love, and/or affection. In that sense, "nonmonogamy" may be accurately applied to extramarital sex, group marriage, or polyamory. It is not synonymous with infidelity, since all parties are consenting to the relationship structure, partners are often committed to each other as well as to their other partners and cheating is still considered problematic behavior with many non-monogamous relationships.

Queer theology is a theological method that has developed out of the philosophical approach of queer theory, built upon scholars such as Marcella Althaus-Reid, Michel Foucault, Gayle Rubin, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, and Judith Butler. Queer theology begins with the assumption that gender variance and queer desire have always been present in human history, including faith traditions and their sacred texts such as the Jewish Scriptures and the Bible. It was at one time separated into two separate theologies: gay theology and lesbian theology. Later, the two theologies would merge and expand to become the more general method of queer theology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bisexual erasure</span> Dismissing or misrepresenting bisexuals in the public perception

Bisexual erasure, also called bisexual invisibility, is the tendency to ignore, remove, falsify, or re-explain evidence of bisexuality in history, academia, the news media, and other primary sources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Questioning (sexuality and gender)</span> Process of self-exploration

The questioning of one's sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender, or all three is a process of exploration by people who may be unsure, still exploring, or concerned about applying a social label to themselves for various reasons. The letter "Q" is sometimes added to the end of the acronym LGBT ; the "Q" can refer to either queer or questioning.

Gay affirmative psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy for non-heterosexual people, specifically gay and lesbian clients, which focuses on client comfort in working towards authenticity and self-acceptance regarding sexual orientation, and does not attempt to "change" them to heterosexual, or to "eliminate or diminish" same-sex "desires and behaviors". The American Psychological Association (APA) offers guidelines and materials for gay affirmative psychotherapy. Affirmative psychotherapy affirms that homosexuality or bisexuality is not a mental disorder, in accordance with global scientific consensus. In fact, embracing and affirming gay identity can be a key component to recovery from other mental illnesses or substance abuse. Clients whose religious beliefs are interpreted as teaching against homosexual behavior may require some other method of integration of their possibly conflicting religious and sexual selves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bisexuality</span> Sexual attraction to people of any gender

Bisexuality is a romantic or sexual attraction or behavior toward both males and females, to more than one gender, or to both people of the same gender and different genders. It may also be defined to include romantic or sexual attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity, which is also known as pansexuality.

Eric Anderson is an American sociologist and sexologist specializing in adolescent men's gender and sexualities. He holds the position of Professor of Masculinities, Sexualities and Sport at the University of Winchester, in England. His research has been recognized for excellence by the British Academy of Social Sciences and he is an elected Fellow of the International Academy of Sex Research. Anderson is an advocate for the inclusion of gay men in sport and is America's first openly gay high-school coach, having come out at Huntington Beach High School, the same high-school that produced the nation's first openly gay, professional team sport athlete, Robbie Rogers who recently played for LA Galaxy.

Arlene Istar Lev is a North American clinical social worker, family therapist, and educator. She is an independent scholar, who has lectured internationally on topics related to sexual orientation and gender identity, sexuality, and LGBTQ families.

Gender and sexual diversity (GSD), or simply sexual diversity, refers to all the diversities of sex characteristics, sexual orientations and gender identities, without the need to specify each of the identities, behaviors, or characteristics that form this plurality.

LGBT psychology is a field of psychology of surrounding the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals, in the particular the diverse range of psychological perspectives and experiences of these individuals. It covers different aspects such as identity development including the coming out process, parenting and family practices and support for LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as issues of prejudice and discrimination involving the LGBT community.

Consensual non-monogamy (CNM), also known as ethical non-monogamy (ENM), is an umbrella term for relationships in which all partners give explicit consent to engage in romantic, intimate, and/or sexual relationships with multiple people. Consensual non-monogamy differs from infidelity by the knowledge and consent of those involved, and from polygamy by the various partners not being in a single marriage. Common forms of consensual non-monogamy include swinging, polyamory, and open relationships.

Queerplatonic relationships (QPR) and queerplatonic partnerships (QPP) are committed intimate relationships which are not romantic in nature. They may differ from usual close friendships by having more explicit commitment, validation, status, structure, and norms, similar to a conventional romantic relationship. The concept originates in aromantic and asexual spaces in the LGBT community. Like romantic relationships, queerplatonic relationships are sometimes said to involve a deeper and more profound emotional connection than typical friendship.

References

  1. ↑ "Queer".
  2. ↑ "Sexuality".
  3. ↑ "Relationships".
  4. ↑ "Gender".
  5. ↑ Barker, M. (1999). Student Loneliness: An Exploratory Investigation. PhD. Psychology. University of Nottingham. Unpublished.
  6. ↑ Clarke, V.; Ellis, S. J.; Peel, E.; Riggs, D. W. (2010). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer Psychology: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-0521700184.
  7. ↑ Weeks, J. (2011). The Languages of Sexuality . Routledge. ISBN   978-0415375733.
  8. ↑ Burr, V. (2015). Social Constructionism (3rd ed.). Routledge. ISBN   978-1848721920.
  9. ↑ Barker, M.; Langdridge, D. (2013). Safe, Sane and Consensual: Contemporary Perspectives on Sadomasochism. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN   978-1137338372.
  10. ↑ Barker, M.; Langdridge, D. (2012). Understanding Non-Monogamies. Routledge. ISBN   978-0415652964.
  11. ↑ "Psychology & Sexuality". Taylor & Francis. ISSN   1941-9899.
  12. ↑ Critical Sexology
  13. ↑ BiReCon, 27 August 2011
  14. ↑ Barker, M.-J. (2018). Rewriting the Rules: An Anti Self-help Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships. Second edition. Routledge. ISBN   978-1138043596.
  15. ↑ Barker, M.-J. (2018). Rewriting the Rules: An Anti Self-help Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships. Second edition. Routledge. ISBN   978-1138043596.
  16. ↑ Barker, M.-J.; Hancock, J. (2017). Enjoy Sex (How, When and If You Want To): A Practical and Inclusive Guide. Icon Books. ISBN   978-1785780806.
  17. ↑ Iantaffi, A.; Barker, M.-J. (2017). How to Understand Your Gender: A Practical Guide for Exploring Who You Are. Jessica Kingsley. ISBN   978-1785927461.
  18. ↑ Barker, M.-J.; Scheele, J. (2016). Queer: A Graphic History. Icon Books. ISBN   978-1785780714.
  19. ↑ Zines
  20. ↑ Meg-John and Justin
  21. ↑ Counseling: Exploring Fear and Sadness
  22. ↑ Barker, M. (2013). Mindful Counselling and Psychotherapy. Sage Publications. ISBN   978-1446211113.
  23. ↑ Brotto, L.; Barker, M. (2014). Mindfulness in Sexual and Relationship Therapy. Routledge. ISBN   978-0415736961.
  24. ↑ The Independent on Sunday Pink List 2013 , 12 October 2013, archived from the original on 12 May 2022
  25. ↑ The Independent on Sunday Rainbow List 2014 , 9 November 2014, archived from the original on 12 May 2022
  26. ↑ Barker, Meg (2012), BiUK, Routledge, ISBN   978-0415517638
  27. ↑ Bisexual stigma and adverse mental health
  28. ↑ Times Higher Education, Erotic Awards, Academic Category 2013, 12 June 2013
  29. ↑ The Indie. Trans activists. 2018, January 2018
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