Jessica Zucker has conducted research on women's reproductive and sexual health for over a decade. Dr. Zucker's writing on female sexuality began during her master's degree program in international public health and continued to evolve while pursuing a master's degree in developmental psychology at Harvard University. While there she conducted a small-scale qualitative study on female identity development and sexual health. Dr. Zucker's doctoral dissertation expanded on previous interests and expertise in women's health. Her dissertation is titled "The Relational Body: Vicissitudes of the Mother-Daughter Attachment and Sexual Subjectivity in Pornography". She interviewed 20 women who work as actors in pornography in the Los Angeles area. Her writing has garnered three awards.   

Jessica presented her research on female embodiment, sexual development, and the daughtering experience in pornography at the American Psychological Association's Division of Psychoanalysis meeting as an invited panelist in 2008 in New York City. She collaborated with Drs. Muriel Dimen, Katie Gentile, and Virginia Goldner. The title of her paper is "Lights, Camera, Attachment: Female Embodiment as Seen Through the Lens of Pornography".

BOOKS

Dr. Zucker contributed a chapter to "Knowing and Not-Knowing and Sort-of-Knowing: Psychoanalysis and the Experience of Uncertainty", a psychoanalytic anthology published by Karnac Books (2010) based on her ethnographic research on women in pornography , female sexuality, and the complexity of mother-daughter attachment relationships. Edited by Dr. Jean Petrucelli, other contributing authors include, among others: Drs. Philip Bromberg, James Fosshage, Katie Gentile, and Allan Schore. 

Dr. Zucker spoke at the American Psychological Association's Division of Psychoanalysis conference in Chicago as an invited panelist in Spring 2010 in association with her Karnac Books publication. Based on her recent publication, Dr. Zucker was invited to present her research in Fall 2010 at the William Alanson White Institute in New York City. She has been asked to return to the institute to discuss her book after its publication.

Dr. Zucker is currently writing her first book for Routledge based on her research exploring mother-daughter attachment relationships and issues surrounding the body (forthcoming, 2013).

Jessica is contributing (2012) to a book titled "Moments to Cherish: A Book About Motherhood." All proceeds will be donated to the March of Dimes.  

BLOGS

Jessica is a PBS blogger for This Emotional Life. Her blog addresses issues pertaining to transitions in parenting, infant-caregiver attachment relationships, and postpartum mood disorders. She is a contributing blogger on The Huffington Post in association with this PBS project. Dr. Zucker was an advising consultant in the development of the PBS Early Attachment Toolkit Early Moments Matter. In conjunction with her involvement with PBS, Dr. Zucker was interviewed by Therese Borchard of Beyond Blue about attachment, motherhood, and establishing healthy relationships. This article can also be found on Psych Central. Her writing is featured in the PBS This Emotional LIfe newsletters A Mother's Day Campaign for Emotional Health and Rising Above Your Limitations. PBS' This Emotional Life launched Pay it Forward, a campaign dedicated to creating more access to underserved families about cutting edge attachment research through wider distribution of Early Moments Matter.

Babble will be conducting an interview series with Dr. Zucker (2011/2012), exploring issues related to pregnancy, postpartum adjustments, and motherhood. Babble is an online parenting community aimed at "telling the truth about parenting, to bypass the cliches and dig into the magical and maddening reality." Writers Rebeca Odes and Ceridwen Morris of "From the Hips" reviewed Dr. Zucker's Huffington Post article "Maternal Self-Esteem."  

The International Museum of Women will be showcasing Dr. Zucker's piece "Smaller Than Before: The Politics of Postpartum Bodies" in an exhibit MAMA: Motherhood Around the Globe in January 2012. The IMOW is an innovative social change museum that amplifies the voices of women worldwide.

Katherine Stone, of Postpartum Progress, invited Dr. Zucker, among other writers and experts in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, to participate in the annual online Mother's Day Rally 2010 dedicated to maternal mental health. Jessica contributed "On Skipping Motherhood Perfection" to the rally. Postpartum Progress is the most widely-read blog on postpartum depression and other mental illnesses related to childbirth. Dr. Zucker is a guest contributor to My Postpartum Voice, an award-winning blog dedicated to providing support for women and families struggling with postpartum mood disorders.

"Good Enough is the New Perfect: Finding Happiness + Success in Modern Motherhood", a recently published book (2011) written by Gillespie and Temple, included Dr. Zucker as a guest contributor on their blog- "What's Up With Motherhood?".

Jessica is the featured psychological expert on My Best Birth, founded by Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake, the creators of the documentary The Business of Being Born. The online interactive column explores issues related to pregnancy, birth, postpartum adjustments, and transitions in mothering.

MAGAZINE

"Connecting with Baby Before Birth" is a featured article in the Fall 2010 issue of Pathways to Family Wellness Magazine. 

DOCUMENTARIES

Instrumental in shaping the ongoing psychological backbone of the project, Dr. Zucker was interviewed in Fall 2011 in New York City as a consulting expert for a documentary film project exploring transitions in motherhood, postpartum adjustments, and the resulting complexities in identity as parenthood emerges. Christy Turlington Burns of Every Mother Counts is Executive Producing the film. Jessica is an associate producer on the project.

Jessica will be interviewed for a documentary (Winter 2011) created by Elena Rossini discussing the intergenerational transmission of mother-daughter body image issues. The Illusionists is a feature-length documentary about the body as the “finest consumer object,” focusing on how mass media, advertising, and several industries manipulate and exploit women's insecurities about their bodies for profit. Dr. Zucker's writing will be featured on The Illusionists blog in support of the film project. Cinematographer Elena Rossini was involved in the Endangered Species International Summit in London, among myriad other cutting-edge projects worldwide.

Early Moments Matter, an award-winning documentary that delves into the centrality of early parent-child attachment, interviewed Dr. Zucker as an attachment expert. Early Moments Matter is being distributed to hospitals, birth centers, and pediatrician's offices nationwide as an educational tool for developing families. The Attachment Toolkit features a series of educational materials with the aim of increasing awareness and skills for parents. Dr. Zucker is an ongoing consultant on the project.

Riddim Trax. A documentary film about the emotional intricacies of reuniting with family members after years of separation interviewed Dr. Zucker as a therapeutic consultant.

INTERVIEWS + LIVE

The Museum of Motherhood in New York City invited Dr. Zucker to take part in a conference dedicated to mindful motherhood and conscious parenting (Fall 2011). Jessica offered perspectives on the art and science of attachment theory as well as one-on-one parenting consultation sessions. Dr. Zucker participated alongside cutting-edge authors, psychologists, parenting experts, and perinatal researchers.

In the Fall 2012, Jessica will be presenting at The Motherhood Consortium in Los Angeles. Details to follow.

Bini Birth has asked Dr. Zucker to speak on a panel exploring symptoms and challenges posed by postpartum depression. Jessica spoke at a parenting event organized by Bini Birth in 2010. The panel explored the art and science of early childhood attachment research and its implications for parenting.

Carrie Contey, nationally recognized parenting consultant, author, Slow Family Living Movement founder, and Ted Talks speaker, created a dynamic weekend workshop that plunged into essential elements of what it means to parent mindfully. Carrie offered invaluable tools and insights for pregnant and parenting families. Event dates: Becoming a Calm, Cool, Connected Family Workshop August 14th, training for birth professionals August 15th, professional training for psychologists August 16, 2011. In anticipation of her visit to LA, Jessica interviewed Carrie about her long-standing passion for parenting with purpose. Based on feedback generated by her summer offerings, Dr. Contey will return to Los Angeles in 2012. Details to come.

Jessica participated in a roundtable media briefing and screening of This Emotional Life at the Paley Center for Media in New York City for New York area writers and reporters. Panelists explored the importance of establishing healthy social connections in infancy and the latest science in understanding the bond between parents and children. Hosted by Dr. Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard psychologist and author, the television documentary series premiered January 4-6, 2010 on PBS. The series addresses issues organized around improving social relationships, understanding complex emotional struggles, and searching for greater happiness. Project partners include: Paul Allen's Vulcan Productions, Method, WGBH Boston Nova Science, Cause and Affect, Kunhardt McGee Productions, Vox Global Mandate, and Fleishman-Hillard.