Feminist Therapy

Once a woman sees a feminist therapist, she never goes back.

~ Lenore Walker

Agenda
What is feminism?
A very brief history

Assumptions about human nature

View of personality development View of psychopathology Nature & techniques of therapy What about men? Does feminist therapy work?

What is Feminism?

Feminism is a diverse, competing, and often opposing collection of social theories, political movements, and moral philosophies, largely motivated by or concerning the experiences of women, especially in terms of their social, political, and economic inequalities.

Is feminism dead?

(7-15-98)

Types of Feminism
A diverse, competing, and often opposing collection of

social theories, political movements, and moral philosophies

Three main differences Emphasize unique qualities of women? Integrate issues of culture and class into viewpoint? Advocate for rejection of masculine or patriarchal models?

Types of Feminism
Liberal Feminism

Emphasis on equality of women & men Aims to change current legal structures and interventions to promote access for women Criticized for trying to be like men

Types of Feminism
Cultural Feminism

Emphasizes differences between men & women Values unique female qualities Gender interacts with race, social class, and other factors

We found that one important source of healing emerged when we got in touch with all the factors in our lives that were causing particular pain. For black females, and males too, that means learning about the myriad ways racism, sexism, class exploitation, homophobia, and various other structures of domination operate in our daily lives to undermine our capacity to be self-determining. -- bell hooks

Types of Feminism
Radical & Socialist Feminism

Oppression based on gender is the most stubborn form of injustice (Hillary Clinton heckled) Capitalism is oppressive The whole patriarchal, capitalist system needs to be abolished Advocates separatism Questions heterosexuality

Left
Radical/Social Cultural Liberal

Right

History (herstory)
Karen Horney (1966) Psychoanalyst who rejected penis envy

Women envy mens power and social status

Phyllis Chesler (1972) Criticized patriarchal male therapist-female client relationship (therapist is expert, woman submits to his wisdom)

Said that refusal to conform was labeled as mental illness

NOW (National Organization for Women) Betty Friedan, 1966 Political issues/discrimination laws and hiring processes Consciousness raising groups (1970s) Bring about social change No leaders, open discussion Personal is political (gender role stereotypes in workplace, society)

Different meanings in different cultures

History cont.

Lenore Walker (Contemporary feminist therapist)

Four stages of feminist therapy development

1. 2. 3.

4.

Challenged traditional therapies Integrated some positive aspects of traditional therapy Advocated for all other therapies adding gender sensitive components Feminist therapy can stand on its own

Therapy from a Feminist Perspective

The practice of therapy informed by feminist

political philosophy and analysis, grounded in the multicultural feminist scholarship on the psychology of women and gender.
Developed out of dissatisfaction with

traditional approaches to psychotherapy

Therapy from a Feminist Perspective

A therapy which fails to address power issues in peoples lives works automatically to reinforce oppression -- McLellan, 1999
We found that one important source of healing emerged when we got in touch with all the factors in our lives that were causing particular pain. For black females, and males too, that means learning about the myriad ways racism, sexism, class exploitation, homophobia, and various other structures of domination operate in our daily lives to undermine our capacity to be self-determining. -- bell hooks on interlocking oppressions

Assumptions about Human Nature

We exist in a political and social system that is male

dominated: Patriarchy
In order for women to experience changes in personal

lives, political changes (to social institutions) must occur

Gender schemas/sex-role stereotypes limit development

In society, men have more power than women

Women are taught to rely on men

Patriarchy
Masculine behaviors and

Sex
Biological: Male/Female Usually dichotomous

thought patterns are the norm

Hierarchy of value and power

based on gender, race, class, sexual orientation, etc.

Men and women are judged

Gender
Social construct:

differently for the same characteristics

Masculine/Feminine Occurs on a continuum

Gender Socialization
Gender and Children

First question asked?

Males preferred in some cultures

Infant behavior across gender is similar: treatment is different

Babys clothing predicted how it was treated (Smith & Lloyd, 1978)

Media, teachers, peers, etc. often provide and reinforce gender role expectations (i.e., what is socially appropriate for females & males)

Over time, a gender role schema develops: We interpret our world based on our gender expectations

Gender socialization cont.

Puberty

Sex differences become more visually apparent Conflict for girls because of how society views the female body and role of female sexuality-conflicting

Importance of appearance (especially for girls) Sexual double-standard

Negative response to menstruation

Adulthood

Working mom/Superwoman Role strain/conflict Lack of support (at work and home) Glass ceiling Empty Nest Menopause

Views on Psychopathology
Psychological distress is environmentally induced via

gender roles and (sexist) social forces

Women at higher risk for role strain and conflict Women more likely to experience sexual trauma/harassment

Psychological distress is a logical response to a stressful

environment
Women are over-represented in certain psychological

disorders due to socialization and social influences (not because of biological differences)

Eating disorders Depression Anxiety PTSD

Views on classification
Classification systems considered problematic

DSM criticized for being male-centered (male = norm)

Dependant and histrionic personality disorders are in the DSM Dominating, greedy, macho personality disorders?

Classification focuses on symptoms, underemphasizes social context (PTSD an exception) Diagnostic labeling criticized for encouraging adjustment to male-centered social norms

Views on specific psychological problems

Depression

Women taught to be helpless, dependant, please men Feel unable to control their lives or assert true self Appearance = worth

Generalized Anxiety = conflicting social expectations PTSD = fear, anxiety, stress felt after victimization (e.g., rape, abuse) Eating disorders

Socialization and societal messages Use gender role analysis to examine external messages

Goals of Feminist Therapy

Consciousness raising; subordinate group that has

been wronged
Recognize self in social context Choose own path Develop sense of self based on own needs

Restructure schema, insight

Empowerment Political awareness Self-esteem, remove lens of others

What a feminist therapists does

Is aware of what he/she brings to the table (own values)
Forms egalitarian relationship

Demystifies therapy Respects what client brings to therapy Is aware of power balance; gives client permission to be understood Self-discloses own struggles (if/when therapeutically appropriate) Considers social, political, historical, & cultural contextsthen psychological things Supports (interpersonally, womens groups) Educates Power analysis Gender role analysis Bibliotherapy Is technically eclectic, but

Does assertiveness training Reframes schemas

What about the MEN???

Yes, men can benefit from feminist therapy

Focus on socialization Attaining level of masculinity Drugs/alcohol, family role issues

Men can even be feminist therapists!

Feminist therapy does not refer to who the therapist or client is, but rather the framework they bring to the table.

Research
Enns & Hackett (1990)
College women preferred feminist counselors to non-feminist counselors when career planning, sexual harassment, or assault was the issue.

Marecek et al. (1979)

67% of women in feminist therapy and 38% of women in traditional therapy found therapy to be helpful

Schneider (1985)
Feminist therapists seen as most helpful for career issues versus marriage or parental concerns

Criticisms
More a political stance than a theory of therapy Feminist views too diverse Radical feminists reject it entirely because

psychotherapy is a tool of patriarchal, oppressive society.

An example: Jane
Jane is a single parent of two preteen kids. She is currently unemployed but is (and has always been) very involved in her kids education and social life, volunteering for various school activities and supplementing the kids formal education with a variety of educational activities such as trips to museums. She is presenting with depression and expressing significant dissatisfaction with her inability to keep the house tidy and organized.
How would different types of therapists respond?
Psychoanalytic Humanistic Existential Behavioral Cognitive Feminist

Some Good References

Brown, Laura (1994). Subversive Dialogues:

Theory in feminist therapy.

Chesler, Phyllis (1972). Women and madness.
Davis, Angela (1983). Women Race & Class. Enns, Carolyn (2004). Feminist Theories &

Feminist Psychotherapies.