By Anisha Pandya | Authentic Communication Groups
I feel a mixture of both excitement and trepidation as I share that my article, titled “Murdered Vagina and Lynched Pride – Reflections on Working with Victims of Gang Rape,” has been published by Routledge.
This work represents some of the most vulnerable and challenging experiences I have encountered as a psychotherapist. In this paper, I present two psychotherapy case studies of women who have survived gang rape. These cases serve as examples of what I call “secret garden work”—deep, transformative therapy focused on reclaiming female power, desire, and sexuality in the aftermath of sexual violence.
Challenging the Silence Around Female Sexuality and Trauma
Both cases I explore in the paper involve a profound, complex relationship between each woman and her vagina. The work highlights:
🔹 The objectification of women in society and the intersectional factors that shape their trauma.
🔹 The unspoken professional dilemmas around what “cure” means for women who have experienced rape.
🔹 How psychotherapy, if unexamined, can unknowingly reinforce patriarchal norms by adhering to rigid, heteronormative ideas about female sexuality.
🔹 The deep-rooted silence in professional literature surrounding female sexual desire, shame, and healing.
I argue that the prohibition of female desire and the overwhelming shame linked to sexual violence create a collective silence—one that must be broken. This paper is an effort to breach that barrier, challenge the status quo, and give voice to this essential yet often overlooked work.
Read the Full Paper
I invite you to read my full article, where I discuss these themes in depth:
This is not just an academic exploration; it is a call for deeper reflection on how we, as professionals and as a society, engage with survivors of sexual violence.
I welcome thoughts, reflections, and dialogue on this critical subject. Let’s start the conversation.
Warmly,
Anisha Pandya
Partner, Authentic Communication Groups