Renee Gerlich, a New Zealand feminist activist and writer, discusses the profound impact of addiction on women, linking it to broader societal issues and personal liberation. Young NYC dyke Jen Z shares her journey of recovery from alcohol addiction, addressing the nuances of trans culture and its intersection with substance use. They delve into the vital role of female-only spaces in recovery, the emotional ties between substance use and trauma, and the societal pressures facing women today. This enlightening conversation emphasizes empowerment, healing, and community.
Renee Gerlich highlights that addiction often arises as a response to intolerable life circumstances, linking it to personal and societal traumas.
The podcast emphasizes the need for societal shifts to support women in recovery by addressing the pressures of toxic gender norms and intergenerational trauma.
Deep dives
Understanding Addiction Beyond Substances
Addiction is often misconceived as solely related to drugs and alcohol, but it can encompass various behaviors and emotional states. Feminist writer Renee Gerlich discusses that addiction may arise as an adaptation to intolerable life circumstances, which can manifest in numerous forms like social facades or compulsive behaviors. This broader understanding helps link addiction to personal and societal traumas, with many individuals learning to suppress their feelings from a young age to avoid negative consequences. The essential source of addiction is described as a spiritual emptiness, highlighting how early life experiences shape our coping mechanisms and the roles we feel compelled to play.
The Impact of Men's Addictions on Women
Gerlich emphasizes the detrimental effects of men's addictions, particularly to controlling and violent behaviors, which significantly impact women's lives. The proliferation of pornography and prostitution is seen as a reflection of masculine norms that objectify women and normalize their exploitation, leading to cycles of violation and trauma. Women's identities become tied to these patriarchal structures, with societal expectations promoting femininity as being subservient and accepting of male dominance. The conversation reveals the urgent need for women to reclaim their self-identity and recover from the disconnection attributed to these maladaptive societal roles.
Coping Mechanisms in a Hostile Environment
The podcast discusses how societal pressures contribute to female substance abuse as a coping mechanism for enduring the struggles of living in a patriarchal world. A participant from New York City shares her experiences with trans ideology and its relationship to addiction, noting how negative societal expectations often lead women to seek fulfillment through substances. She explains that not all women will succumb to addiction; it hinges on personal circumstances and environmental factors, including parental influence. The conversation suggests that addressing these issues requires a societal shift to better support women and combat the pervasive pressure to conform to toxic gender norms.
The Role of Trauma in Addiction and Recovery
Intergenerational trauma is highlighted as a significant factor in women's substance use, dictating a cycle of disconnection from both self and community. The narrative illustrates how victims of trauma often turn to substances to manage their pain, which can lead to further marginalization, particularly among Indigenous women, who face additional societal challenges. Harm reduction approaches that emphasize connection and understanding rather than punishment are proposed as necessary for supporting women in recovery. Ultimately, the discussion underscores the feminist imperative to address the deeper societal issues at play that foster environments where addiction flourishes.
Our edition 43 November 7th 2019 podcast features WLRN's world news delivered by Sekhmet SheOwl followed by the song "Gold Dust Woman" by Fleetwood Mac. Next, you'll hear an interview Thistle did with New Zealand feminist activist and writer, Renee Gerlich, before hearing the song "Wise Up" by Aimee Mann.
Here is a list of books Renee refers to in her interview:
Harriet Lerner - The Dance of Anger
Gabor Mate - When the Body Says No
Charlotte Kasl - Women, Sex and Addiction
Andrea Dworkin - Our Blood
Here is the video she recommends at the end of the interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C7XAdVxdf8&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR31ywiW3vWyFr5Zkue3zyPrzs6is8L3BD8fuShXQkjJIwczGmL5LGZJsss
Next, tune in for an interview Sekhmet did with Jen, a young New York City dyke who is in recovery from alcohol addiction. Finally, WLRN's April Neault closes out the program with her stellar commentary on addiction and substance use both from a personal perspective and from the perspective of her work at a local women's shelter in her community.
Thanks for listening to another edition of WLRN's monthly news program. To become a listener sponsor to support this work, please consider making a $5/month donation to the station to be taken directly from your account. Just click on the donate button on our wordpress site here: https://wlrnmedia.wordpress.com/ If you become a listener sponsor, we will send you a gift of WLRN swag in the mail along with a personalized thank you card. Our goal is to be the "NPR of the Femisphere" and to be able to do this work for years to come.
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