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Meg-John Barker

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Meg-John Barker
Meg-John Barker speaks about bisexuality in 2016
Born
Meg-John Barker

(1974-06-23) 23 June 1974 (age 50)
Hull, England
NationalityBritish
EducationPhD Psychology, University of Nottingham; MA Psychotherapy, University of Sheffield
Occupation(s)author, academic, activist and psychotherapist
Years active2003–present
Known forleading academic on open non-monogamy, bisexuality, non-binary gender, and BDSM
Websiterewriting-the-rules.com

Meg-John Barker (born 23 June 1974) is an author, academic, activist and psychotherapist. A Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the Open University in the United Kingdom, Barker holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Nottingham, and is also a UKCP accredited psychotherapist specializing in sex therapy and relationship counseling.

Barker has written and/or edited some of the first academic collections on open non-monogamy, bisexuality, non-binary gender and BDSM. Barker was editor of the journal Psychology & Sexuality from 2010 to 2017, the lead author of The Bisexuality Report and the writer of the anti self-help book and blog on relationships Rewriting the Rules.

Barker, a non-binary person, uses singular they/them pronouns.

Early life and education

Barker was born in Hull, England, on 23 June 1974, grew up in Bradford, and holds a PhD[1] 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 research 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,[2] kink,[3] non-binary[4] 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[5] and on non-monogamy.[6] and a recent book for mental health professionals (co-authored with Christina Richards). Barker founded the journal of Psychology & Sexuality[7] together with Langdridge in 2010, and they co-edited it until 2017. Barker co-organizes a number of seminar series and conferences, notably the Critical Sexology[8] series, an interdisciplinary project co-organized with Lisa Downing and Robert Gillett; BiReCon[9] (a biennial research conference which takes place prior to the annual BiCon event) and the Pornified[10] and Sense About Sex[11] Projects.

Psychotherapy

Barker leads the Open University module Counselling: Exploring Fear and Sadness[12]. They have written for the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapy journal (COSRT,[13] the main UK organisation for Sex and Relationship Therapists)). Barker practises Sexual & Relationship Therapy at London Friend . They practise existential psychotherapy and mindfulness with books on the latter[14] developing the approaches of social mindfulness therapy and mindful sex and relationship therapy (MSRT).[15]

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,[16] and Rainbow List.[17] Barker was one of the founder members of BiUK, the organization for bisexual research and activism.[18] 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[19] In 2013, Barker took home an Erotic Award in the academic category from Times Higher Education,[20] for the book Rewriting the Rules.

Works

Books (as author)

  • Barker, M. (2003) Introductory Psychology: History, Themes and Perspectives. Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd. ISBN 978-1903337172
  • Barker, M. (2012) Rewriting The Rules: An Integrative Guide To Love, Sex and Relationships. London: Routledge ISBN 978-0415517638
  • Richards, C & Barker, M. (2013) Sexuality and Gender for Counsellors, Psychologists and Health Professionals: A Practical Guide. London: Sage. ISBN 978-0857028433
  • Barker, M. (2013) Mindfulness in Counselling & Psychotherapy: Practising Mindfully Across Approaches and Issues. London: Sage. ISBN 978-1446211113
  • Barker, M.-J. & Gabb, J. (2016) The Secrets of Enduring Love: How to Make Relationships Last. London: Penguin RandomHouse. ISBN 978-1785040238
  • Barker, M.-J. & Scheele, J. (2016) Queer: A Graphic History. London: Icon Books. ISBN 978-1785780714
  • Barker, M.-J. & Hancock, J. (2017) Enjoy Sex (How, When and If You Want To): A Practical and Inclusive Guide. London: Icon Books. ISBN 978-1785780806
  • Iantaffi, A. & Barker, M.-J. (2017) How to Understand Your Gender: A Practical Guide for Exploring Who You Are. London: Jessica Kingsley. ISBN 978-1785927461
  • Barker, M.-J. (2018) Rewriting the Rules: An Anti-Self_help Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1138043596
  • Barker, M.-J. (2018) The Psychology of Sex. London: Routledge ISBN 978-1138676497
  • Barker, M.-J., Gill, R. & Harvey, L. (2018) Mediated Intimacy: Sex Advice in Media Culture. London: Polity. ISBN 978-1509509126

Books (as editor)

  • Langdridge, D. & Barker M. (2007) Safe, Sane and Consensual: Contemporary Perspectives on Sadomasochism, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-0230517745
  • Barker, M., Vossler, A. & Langdridge, D. (Eds.) (2010) Understanding Counselling and Psychotherapy. London: Sage. ISBN 978-1849204767
  • Langdridge, D. & Barker M. (Eds.) (2010) Understanding Non-monogamies. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0415800556
  • Brotto, L. & Barker, M. (Eds.) (2014) Mindfulness in Sexual and Relationship Therapy. Abingdon: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0415736961
  • Richards, C. & Barker, M. (Eds.) (2015) The Palgrave Handbook of the Psychology of Sexuality & Gender. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-1137345882
  • Vossler, A., Havard, C., Pike, G. Barker, M.-J. & Raabe, B. (Eds.) (2017) Mad or Bad? A Critical Approach to Counselling and Forensic Pscyhology. London: Sage. ISBN 978-1473963528
  • Richards, C., Bouman, W. & Barker, M.-J. (Eds.) (2018) Genderqueer and Non-Binary Genders. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-1473963528

Reports

  • Barker, M., Richards, C., Jones, R., Bowes-Catton, H., & Plowman, T. (2012). The Bisexuality Report: Bisexual Inclusion in LGBT equality and diversity. Milton Keynes: The Open University, Centre for Citizenship, Identity and Governance. ISBN 978-0415517638
  • Shaw, L., Butler, C. Langdridge, D., Gibson, S., Barker, M., Lenihan, P., Nair R., & Richards, C. (2012). Guidelines for psychologists working therapeutically with sexual and gender minority clients. Leicester: British Psychological Society.
  • Attwood, F., Bale, C. & Barker, M. (Eds.) (2013). The Sexualization Report. Funded by The Wellcome Trust.

Selected articles and book chapters

  • Barker, M. (2005). This is my partner, and this is my… partner’s partner: Constructing a polyamorous identity in a monogamous world.Journal of Constructivist Psycholog 18: 75-88.
  • Ritchie, A. & Barker, M. (2006). ‘There aren’t words for what we do or how we feel so we have to make them up’: Constructing polyamorous languages in a culture of compulsory monogamy. Sexualities 9: 584-601.
  • Barker, M. (2007). Heteronormativity and the exclusion of bisexuality in psychology. In V. Clarke & E. Peel (Eds.) Out in Psychology: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer Perspectives. pp. 95–117. Chichester: Wiley
  • Barker, M. & Langdridge, D. (2010). Whatever happened to non-monogamies? Critical reflections on recent research and theory. Sexualities 13: 748-772.

Journal editorships

References

  1. ^ Barker, M. (1999). Student Loneliness: An Exploratory Investigation. PhD. Psychology. University of Nottingham. Unpublished.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Weeks, J. (2011). The Languages of Sexuality. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415375733.
  4. ^ Burr, V. (2015). Social Constructionism (3rd Edition). Routledge ISBN 978-1848721920 {{citation}}: templatestyles stripmarker in |title= at position 66 (help)
  5. ^ Barker, M.; Langdridge, D. (2013). Safe, Sane and Consensual: Contemporary Perspectives on Sadomasochism. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-1137338372.
  6. ^ Barker, M.; Langdridge, D. (2012). Understanding Non-Monogamies. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415652964.
  7. ^ "Psychology & Sexuality". Taylor & Francis. ISSN 1941-9899. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ Critical Sexology
  9. ^ BiReCon
  10. ^ Pornified?
  11. ^ Sense About Sex, archived from the original on 4 June 2013 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Counseling: Exploring Fear and Sadness
  13. ^ COSRT
  14. ^ Barker, M. (2013). Mindful Counselling and Psychotherapy. Sage Publications. ISBN 978-1446211113.
  15. ^ Brotto, L.; Barker, M. (2014). Mindfulness in Sexual and Relationship Therapy. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415736961.
  16. ^ The Independent on Sunday Pink List 2013
  17. ^ The Independent on Sunday Rainbow List 2014
  18. ^ BiUK, ISBN 978-0415517638
  19. ^ Bisexual stigma and adverse mental health
  20. ^ Times Higher Education, Erotic Awards, Academic Category 2013
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