Rachel was raised in a strict fundamentalist Christian household with rigid gender expectations. She was exposed to pedophilia, sexual violence and severe homophobia from a very young age. In the process of trying to find herself, Rachel became convinced that she could solve her mental health issues and her difficulties dating by taking cross-sex hormones and becoming a man. Rachel, who now identifies as a lesbian woman, shares openly about this process & why she decided to ultimately detransition. Rachel also explains what all of this has to do with internalized & culturally reinforced misogyny, unprocessed trauma, fundamentalist ideologies + widespread medical & psychological malpractice.
Find Rachel on Twitter.
Rachel's book recommendation: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk and Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships by Janja Lalich
Songs featured: “Save Me” by Bleu and “Things Are Gonna Get Easier” by Low Motion Disco
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#92 Exploring Gender Dysphoria, Mental Health and the Decision to Detransition with Rachel Foster