Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book draws on a wide range of perspectives, but focuses particularly on critical psychology, feminism, and transgender scholarship. It also draws attention to the interconnected narratives of sexual violence and gender identity within psychological discourses. Psychology's interest in perversion and sexual violence has a long history that is continually being reinvigorated through new diagnoses, treatments, and theories. The psychiatry's framing of rape has eluded extensive critique; psychology and psychiatry have been the focus of much criticism over the years, most notably from anti-psychiatry and critical psychology. Feminism remains skeptical and cautious of a profession that encourages people to look inward for solutions, due to the social issues affecting women with regard to discrimination, violence, and oppression. Transgenderism refers to individuals whose gender identity does not match either their physical body, or cultural 'norms' of gender.