Ms Bliss Qadesh
Expertise
I am a PhD researcher completing my thesis on Spiritual Abuse, Violence and Domination in UK Paganism. I teach undergraduates in Sociology and Politics. Co-Production Research Associate and Think Tank Research Fellow.
Current positions
Contact
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Biography
Research Focus on Spiritual Abuse in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence in Paganism.
Research experience in Co-Production and Creative Methods, Intersectional Youth, Rapid Reviews of Research, Systematic Reviews, IPA and Thematic Analysis.
Special Interest in Marginalised Groups and Intersectional Feminism, Holistic Spiritual Activism, Eco-Feminism, Matriarchy Research and Gender Diversity / Queering.
Graduate Teaching Experience in Sociology and Politics with SPAIS
I'm a funded Social Policy PhD researcher based at the Centre for Gender and Violence Research, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol. I am currently working as a Level 2 Graduate Teacher, holding undergrad seminars in Sociology, Politics and International Studies, and completing a think tank report for the Schumacher Institute, looking at Downward Causation on DEI / Gender Inclusion in the 3rd sector.
My PhD research focuses on Intimate Partner Violence and Spiritual Abuse in Pagan Faith Communities. I also worked as a research associate on a co-produced collaborative project investigating Intersectional Experiences of Sextortion Among Young People, and am completing a think tank report for the Schumacher Insititute on Gender Diversity and Inclusion among 3rd Sector Organisations.
Gender Essentialism and Sexual Violence in Popular Cinema Depictions of Paganism and Pagan Communities – Bristol School for Policy Studies CGVR Departmental Blog 2024
Holistic Spiritual Community as Intersectional Activism – Bristol School for Policy Studies CGVR Departmental Blog 2025
Neuro-Queer Magickal Kink - Subverting the Manic Pixie Dream, book chapter in Spectrums of Sexuality, peer reviewed collaborative anthology, coming late 2026 through Thornapple Press
Research interests
Researching Spiritual Abuse, Violence and Domination in Paganism as an ESRC Funded PhD Candidate
This project aims to explore the lived experiences of people identifying as Pagan within the United Kingdom in relationship to gender based violence, intimate partner violence, domestic abuse, and spiritual abuse. The diverse practices and culture of Paganism as a religious and spiritual identifying population in Britain will be examined in the context of ways that Paganism can support abuse survivors through empowerment, emancipation and recovery, or exacerbate harms by enabling and protecting perpetrators in continued abuse through further marginalisation and exclusion of those who disclose their experiences of abuse within the community.
This research feeds into a larger body of literature exploring faith and coercive control, religious communities and attitudes towards VAWG.