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Dominance
and Submission: The Psychosexual Exploitation of Women in Cults
Janja Lalich
Community Resources on Influence & Control
Alameda, California
Abstract:
The author describes the prevalence of the sexual exploitation of women in cults.
This may take the form of daily controls of sexuality and sex lives or more overt abuses
such as arranged marriages, forced sexual activity with the leader, and rape. Sexual
control is seen as the final step in objectification of the cult member by the
authoritarian leader who is able to satisfy his needs through psychological manipulation
leading to sexual exploitation. Key to recovering from cultic sexual abuse is
psychoeducationthat is, aiding the former cult member to understand the nature of
the overall system of deception and manipulation that was used to exploit her. Through an
examination of the social and psychological influence techniques employed by the cult,
former cult members will be able to productively confront the issues related to their
sexual abuse. _bs_available

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