Nonconsensual Pelvic Exams Amy Jo GoddardIt’s legal in the majority of the US for medical students to perform educational pelvic exams on anesthetized patients without their knowledge. Amy Jo Goddard has been working for years to put a stop to this practice and is producing a documentary on the issue called At Your Cervix. In this conversation, she tells us how unbelievably prevalent this practice is. She also gives accounts from women this has happened to and from medical students uncomfortable with this requirement but afraid to jeopardize their grades by refusing. We also learn about the dark history of gynecology, the work Amy Jo has done to help make these exams illegal in certain parts of the US, how Gynecological Teaching Assistants can give better training to students, plus she gives tips on how we can protect ourselves when we’re in the care of medical professionals. 

(Content note: If you’re a survivor of sexual assault– especially in a medical context or someone who has had prior medical procedures under anesthesia, some of what we discuss may be difficult to hear. I want you to know that before listening and reassure you that even if you’re a die-hard American Sex fan & never miss an episode, it’s fine to sit this one out. Your well being is important us ❤️ )⁣

Amy Jo Goddard Bio

Hailing from Military Dad and Recovering-Catholic-Proudly-Sandra-Dee-Mom, Amy Jo Goddard had no other choice but to become a sex educator just to sail the shaky waters of human experience and help her family survive. Actually they don’t really take sex advice from her.

But thousands of others have—She is author of Woman on Fire: Nine Elements to Wake up Your Erotic Energy, Personal Power and Sexual Intelligence and co-author of the best-selling classic Lesbian Sex Secrets for Men. Amy Jo earned her Master’s degree in Human Sexuality Education at New York University and studied film at New School University. She has been teaching and speaking about feminism and sexuality for over two decades. She delivered her TEDx talk “Owning Your Sexual Power” in Napa Valley, was named one of GO! Magazine’s “100 Women We Love” and one of Kinkly’s “100 Sex Blogging Superheroes.”  Her forthcoming film At Your Cervix, examines patient consent and bodily autonomy in gynecology and medical education, aiming to end unethical practices that harm both patients and medical students. Her Fire Woman Retreat is an annual sexual empowerment event with powerhouse teachers for women and non-binary folks and she teaches several on-going sexual empowerment programs for adults.

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