feminist theory Flashcards
how is this theory different
Previously theories made by men, society socializes people based on their gender, these therapists wanted to explore one’s identity and how their identity impacts how one views themselves based on health and mental well being
what are the key concepts
Problems are viewed in a sociopolitical and cultural context
-In order to understand someone’s depression, you do not just understand symptoms, but have to understand sociopolitical/cultural limitations and ways a person may not have access to healthcare and things that may be contributing to symptoms
Acknowledging psychological oppression imposed through sociopolitical status of women and minorities
The client knows what is best for their life and is the expert on their own life
- Therapist has to listen, you are there to educate about therapy process, but you are not engaging in diagnosis
- DSM is not inclusive, created by white males
- Ex. Women are more likely to be borderline
- Moving away from way of assessing symptoms, believe symptoms are impacted by society a person is living in
Emphasis is on educating clients about the therapy process
Traditional ways of assessing psychological health are challenged
It is assumed that individual change will best occur through
social change
-Client brings about change in own family system/community
Clients are encouraged to take social action
what are the four approaches
liberal, cultural, radical and socialist
what is liberal feminism
(emphasis on overcoming gender socialization patterns- men and women have to be a certain way), have to understand roots and origins and not put expectations on self
Focus
-Helping individuals overcome the limits and constraints of their gender socialization patterns
Major goals
- Personal empowerment of individual women
- Dignity
- Self-fulfillment
- Equality
cultural feminism
Focus
- Oppression stems from society’s devaluation of women’s strengths
- Very important to emphasize differences in women, women tend to be more cooperative and relational and this is a strength, women in power have governments that tend to run more smoothly (based on values of cooperation)
- Emphasize the differences between women and men
- Believe the solution to oppression lies in feminization of the culture
- Society becomes more cooperative, and relational
Major goal
- the infusion of society with values based on cooperation
- working from collective perspective
radical feminism
(what people think of when they think of feminist)
Focus
- The oppression of women that is embedded in patriarchy
- Seek to change society through activism
- Therapy is viewed as a political enterprise with the goal of transformation of society
- You have to change society and get people to be involved in political activism and changing laws and systems to fight for justice
- Empowerment, embolden people so they feel they have a voice, fight for selves and people they love
Major goals
- Transform gender relationships
- Transform societal institutions
- Increase women’s sexual and procreative self-determination.
socialist feminism
(very similar to cultural humility and multicultural movement)
Focus
- Goal of societal change
- Emphasis on multiple oppressions
- Cannot just focus on gender, have to look at intersectionality of various identities
Believe solutions to society’s problems must include consideration of:
- Class
- Race
- Other forms of discrimination
- And how a person has experienced oppression in all these different ways
Major goal
- to transform social relationships and institutions
- change in various identities, how people can have voice and be heard independent of their social position
principles
The personal is political
- People are fighting for their rights and a voice and trying to maintain activism, it cannot be separated from one’s personal views
- Interdependent personal and political views
Personal and social identities are interdependent
The counseling relationship is egalitarian
- Therapists are not experts, there to guide honor and listen to where they are coming from
- One of the critiques of this therapy, in order to be a feminist you are telling someone from collectivist culture they have to stand up to grandfather (respect age / eldest man of family), doing this is not honoring their experience or ways of engaging
Women’s and girls’ experiences and ways of knowing are honored
Definitions of distress and “mental illness” are reformulated
-Do not value DSM and DSM diagnoses, understand oppression and how it can play a part in mental illness, what access person has for support
There is an integrated analysis of oppression
what are the techniques
gender role analysis and intervention, power analysis and power intervention, bibliotherapy, assertiveness training, reframing, relabeling, social action, self disclosure
what is gender role analysis and intervention
To help clients understand the impact of gender-role expectations in their lives
-Societal messages one receives in terms of gender
Provides clients with insight into the ways social issues affect their problems
-Ex. Male client comes to see you because pattern of aggression, look at gender role analysis where were these messages learned and how did they learn to be a male (what did they learn about expressing emotions and how to be accepted)
what is power analysis and power intervention
(looking at access and lack of access to power what level of power people hold)
-Emphasis on the power differences between men and women in society
Clients helped to recognize different kinds of power they possess and how they and others exercise power
- How can clients go about getting more power in particular aspects of life
- Ex. Kate case, never had power growing up and it continued in life, how to help her achieve power
what is bibliotherapy
(helping clients to find resources can be videos, books, etc.)
- Reading assignments that address issues such as
- Coping skills
- Gender inequality
- Gender-role stereotypes
- Ways sexism is promoted
- Power differential between women and men
- Society’s obsession with thinness
- Sexual assault
what is self disclosure
egalitarian relationship
- To help equalize the therapeutic relationship and provide modeling for the client
- Values, beliefs about society, and therapeutic interventions discussed
- Allows the client to make an informed choice
Ex. Therapists have struggled with mental illness themselves, really trying to make oneself visible in therapy process, allows client to see therapist and feel like the therapist is modeling for them (they can overcome stressors)
what is assertiveness training
- Women become aware of their interpersonal rights
- Transcends stereotypical sex roles
- Changes negative beliefs
- Implement changes in their daily lives
what is reframing
changing perception of how you are looking at personal to interpersonal, I am not the problem and this is something I have learned from society)
- Changes the frame of reference for looking at an individual’s behavior
- Shifting from an intrapersonal to an interpersonal definition of a client’s problem
Ex. Client feels anxious, they are not just an anxious person, they just feel anxious because of what is happening in society
