Episode 5: Finding Liberation and Reclaiming Agency Through a New Story with Cait West

"By giving voice to the cognitive dissonance required to be a woman under the patriarchy, you robbed it of its power." — Barbie

What does it take to break free from a life controlled by religious patriarchy? Cait shares her journey of awakening to the abuse and control she experienced growing up, and the long and courageous process of reclaiming her agency and voice.

Throughout the conversation, Cait discusses the challenges of writing about trauma, the importance of therapy in her healing journey, and her approach to portraying complex family dynamics with grace. She also reflects on the nature of liberation, both personal and collective, and how she maintains boundaries to avoid falling back into harmful patterns. If you’re looking for insights into the power of storytelling, the ongoing work of healing, and the pursuit of freedom from oppressive systems, this one’s for you.

🔗 link to full Show Notes and transcript
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Guest Spotlight

Cait is a writer and editor based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her work has been published in The Revealer, Religion Dispatches, Fourth Genre and Hawai`i Pacific Review, among others. As an advocate and a survivor of the Christian patriarchy movement, she serves on the editorial board for Tears of Eden, a nonprofit providing resources for survivors of spiritual abuse, and co-hosts the Survivors Discuss podcast.

Website | Substack | Instagram | TikTok

Get RIFT: Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy at Bookshop.org | on Amazon
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