Chapter 10: Feminist Theory & Therapy Flashcards
Jean Baker Miller
Central figure in Feminist Psychology Theory; Wrote Psychoanalysis and Women & Psychology of Women
Phyllis Chesler
Wrote Women and Madness
Juliet Mitchell
Wrote Women: The Longest Revolution; Psychoanalysis Feminism
John Stuart Mill
Wrote against the oppression of women and of the great costs to society resulting from this opression
Alfred Adler
Strongly condemned subjugation of women, claiming that this treatment of the female sex was in fact a root cause of the psychological problems not only of women but of men and children
Feminist Theory
Has at its core belief in equality between the sexes; women should be fully included in economic, social, and political opportunities and decisionmaking
Feminism
The belief that human beings are of equal worth and that the pervading patriarchal social structures which perpetuate a heirarchy of dominance, based upon gender, must be resisted and transformed toward a more equitable system
Male As Normative
Maleness sets the standard for whatever is considered normal, average, or representative; anything deviating from male has the potential to be seen as abnormal and inferior
Other meanings for Male as Normative
Overrepresentation in research, decisionmaking, politics, literature, entertainment, and descriptions of what it means to be human, healthy, fulfilled, and successful
If an entity has an unknown gender and has no stereotypically identifying features, it will be referred to as male until proven otherwise
Adjestives traditionally used to describe males will be used as compliments for males, and often for females; adjestives traditionally used to describe females will have less positive valence overall and may be viewed as insulting when applied to a male
The male carries the familial identity
Women activities are named as such, whereas male activities are simply activities
Cote Tenet of Feminist Therapy
When a culture treats certain members as exemplary, or normal, and other members as both different from normal and generally inferior, it takes a spychological toll
Main Theoretical principles that inform feminist therapy
Femaleness and Maleness are Central, Powerful Aspects of our Identity
The Dominant Culture is Damaging to Those Who Don’t Fit the Mold
Consciousness is Part of Healing and Change
Gender
Socially constructed attributes of maleness or femaleness
Self-Defining Division we Make
The baby determines that she and the mommy are not one entity
Sexual designation as identity-delineating division
Drive to Fit With One’s Sexually Identified Group
Opens the door for culture to step in and offer the developing human all sorts of potentially useful and potentially harmful guidance
Sexual Identity
Powerful defining feature of our overall human identity;
Iron Rule
For any psychological or cognitive variable studied by psychologists, the differences within each sex are always greater than the differences between the two sexes
Sandra Bem
Gave us a glimpse of the phenomenon which describes the male as normative and anything not male is in danger of being considered abnormal
Gender Definitions
Rigid and Constraining; Because of the strong emphasis in our culture on the individual, any individual who is unable to conform to these constraints is likely to think something is wrong with her rather that something is wrong with the constraints
Feminist Psychological Practice Approach
Seeks dual outcome; assisting women toward empowerment in their own lives and seeking change in whatever social power structures form a basis of many of their problems
Beliefs of Feminist Theory
Gender sterotypes and limits are responsible for psychological damage and human suffering for both men and women.
Gender stereotypes and limits must be changed at the societal level and must be constantly questioned at the personal level
Clients benefit when they recognize the damage and limits they’ve endured from cultural sexism, begin healing through conscious awareness, and become involved in changing things for themselves and other women in whateer is realistic
Tenets of Feminist Psychology
We advocate inclusiveness. We advocate equality. We seek new knowledge. We attend to context. We acknowledge values. We advocate change. We attend to process. We expand psychological practice
Overarching concern in feminist therapy
Understanding personal and social power
Feminists During Intake
Feminists pay close attention to context and listen carefully for evidence of oppression, abuse and underdeveloped sense of self
Minimize the use of such terms as mental disease and disorder and focus instead on conceptualizing what they hear as problems or difficulties faced by the client
Issues that Most Feminist Therapists Assess
Self-Esteem of the Client
Gender-Role Comfort Level of Development
Gender-Based Communication Difficulties
Issues in Intimacy and Body
Self-Esteem of the Client
Women hae been and continue to be socialized to measure their worth by the desirability of the men they’re with or by the number of people they nurture;
Gender-Role Comfort and Level of Development
Women hae been encouraged to seek a male provide income and identity and see themselves as adjunct to male needs, careers and development; Therapists are alert for signs of these gender-role contraints and developmental arrests
Gender-Based Communication Difficulties
There are many other documented gender-based differences in communication styles; Men tend to rate women who were speaking in a competent style as less likeable, more threatening, and less influential than men using the same style
Issues in Intimacy and Body
Many women do not understand their own bodies well and feel guilty and confused, unable to express their sexual needs in their intimate relationships;
Underlying Goals of Feminist Therapy
Involves helping clients see the patterns and social forces that have diminished their sense of power and control
Encouraging clients to reclaim power and authority in the direction of their lives
Allowing clients to experience this shared power in the therapy relationship
Themes that may Emerge in the Session
Defining the therapy relationship and allowing it to grow
Encouraging emotional awareness
Gently exploring a past trauma
Highlighting the role of the client’s gender has played in her life situation and problem
As a Result of Feminist Therapy, Clients may Gradually
Change the ways they view their world
Reclaim and use their personal power
Grow and develop in ways that had been stymied
Relate to others in more productive, fulfilling ways
