An independent observation on (so called) Feminist Therapy
Introduction
- Feminist therapy puts gender and power at the core of the therapeutic process. It is built on the premise that it is essential to consider the social and cultural context that contributes to a person’s problems in order to understand that person.
- A central concept in feminist therapy is the psychological oppression of women and the constraints imposed by the sociopolitical status to which women have been relegated.
- Feminist therapy can be traced to the women’s movement of the 1960’s, a time when women began uniting their voices to express their dissatisfaction with the limiting and confining nature of traditional female roles.
Four Enduring Feminist Philosophies
- Described as the second wave of feminism
- Liberal feminists focus on helping individual women overcome the limits and constraints of their socialization patterns.
- Cultural feminists believe oppression stems from society’s devaluation of women’s strengths.
- Radical feminists focus on the oppression of women that is embedded in patriarchy and seek to change society through activism.
- Socialist feminists share with radical feminists the goal of societal change.
The third wave of feminism embraces diversity with its inclusion of women of color, lesbians, and the postmodern and constructivist viewpoints espoused by many in the most recent generation of women.
- Postmodern feminists provide a model for critiquing the value of other traditional and feminist approaches, addressing the issue of what constitutes reality and proposing multiple truths as opposed to a single truth.
- Women of color feminists believe it is essential that feminist theory be broadened and made more inclusive.
- Lesbian feminists share commonalities with many aspects of radical feminism.
- Global-international feminists take a worldwide perspective and seek to understand the ways in which racism, s*xism, economics, and classism affect women in different countries.
- It is clear that there is no single, unified feminist theory.
Feminist Perspective on Personality Development
- Feminist therapists emphasize that societal gender-role expectations profoundly influence a person’s identity from the moment of birth and become deeply ingrained in adult personality.
- Girls play with dolls, boys play with trucks
- Psychological differences between men and women are due to the fact that women are the primary caretakers who raise the kids
- By identifying with mothers who sacrifice their own desires and goals to serve the family, girls reduce their capacity for autonomy and independence.
- Boys model the aggressive, power-seeking nature of adult males and thus reduce their capacity for the expression of empathy and certain emotions.
Application: Therapeutic Techniques and Procedures
- Many feminist therapists do not use diagnostic labels, or they use them reluctantly.
- Feminist therapists believe diagnostic labels are severely limiting for these reasons:
- They focus on the individual’s symptoms and not the social factors that cause dysfunctional behavior
- May represent an instrument of oppression
- They may reinforce gender-role stereotypes and encourage adjustment to the norms of status quo
- May reflect the inappropriate application of power in the therapeutic relationship
- Can lead to an overemphasis on individual solutions rather than social change
- Have the potential to reduce one’s respect for clients
Feminist Therapy from a Multicultural Perspective
- Feminist therapists suggest that multicultural counseling refers to the analysis of social structures affecting mental health, including s*xism, racism, and other levels of both oppression and privilege.
- The use of power in relationships has application for understanding power inequities due to racial and cultural factors.
- Culturally competent feminist therapists look for ways to work within the client’s culture by exploring consequences and alternatives. They appreciate the complexities involved in changing within one’s culture but do not view culture as sacrosanct.
Limitations for Multicultural Counseling
- The therapists job is not to take away any of the pain or struggle, nor to choose for the client, but to be present in such a way that the client will truly be empowered to decide for him/herself.
- The core value of equality in feminist therapy may limit the effectiveness of the therapist in working with clients from culturally different backgrounds.
Limitations and Criticisms of Feminist Therapy
- Feminist therapists do not take a neutral stance. They advocate definite change in the social structure, especially in the area of equality, power in relationships, the right to self-determination, freedom to pursue a career outside the home, and the right to an education.
- Feminist therapists should challenge clients’ unexamined choices, but most contemporary feminists honor clients’ choices as long as those choices are indeed informed ones.
- Feminist therapists need to be cautious to avoid imposing their values on their clients, even in subtle ways.
- Some disagreement as to whether feminist therapy is a philosophical orientation or a theory.
- Feminist therapy was developed by White, middle-class, heteros*xual women. In the 1980’s they acknowledged that they had overlooked women of color and assumed that rave was not as crucial as gender in understanding oppression.
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