Introduction
Before speaking about feminist theory, it should be mentioned that it refers to the section of psychology which studies gender identity, personality characteristics that determine social behavior of people depending on their sex, and this branch of psychology is called the psychology of gender. The researches in the field of “female psychology” developed under the influence of feminist ideology.
Feminist theory is a complex integrated system of beliefs in social life and human experience, providing the priority of women as a starting point. This theory puts women at the first place, and this place is reflected in three aspects: the first is its main object of study – the situation and difficulties faced by women in society, and the second, this theory considers women as key actors, and this special view at the world is based on the special position of women – women’s role in the social world, and the third is that feminism as a theory criticizes the society on behalf of women and works with them in order to build a better world for them. (Ballou M., Hill M., & West C., 2007)
The Strengths of the Feminist Theory
Feminist Approach to Psychotherapy has evolved since the early 1970s. It is based on the ideas about the women’s movement and on the development of psychological women’s health. The feminist theory is eclectic in regard to technical aspects, it uses any methods, which are consistent with a feminist understanding of how the state of women in society affects her psychological development and to what extent it is the source of distress.
The thesis of the women’s movement is that everything personally has a political aspect and it is the main principle of feminist theory. The problems which seem to be personal can be the result of the social state of women as a group. This has implications for the definition of treatment targets by feminist therapists. The therapists help women to identify social and personal sources of problems and seek solutions, precluding adaptation to oppressive situations. (Ballou M. et al, 2007)
The second principle of the feminist theory is equality in the relationship between client and therapist. The feminist therapist aims to create equal relationships and helps a client to explore the objective equal relations in other spheres of life.
Feminist therapists pay particular attention to the possible abuse of power training. They do not occupy a higher position in the therapeutic relationship and do not allow this to their clients and treat them as senior in the situation. It should be noted that it is a great advantage because this helps a client to be sincere and relaxed.
A client is a true expert regarding her and her life experiences. The therapist may suggest new ways how to evaluate and use this experience, but refrains from interpretation and diagnosis. The task of the therapist is to validate the experience of the client, rather than to analyze. This strength would help a woman to come to her own conclusion and in the future, she will not blame anyone for her probable mistake.
Feminist therapists pay special attention to the complex emotional issues that arise in connection with the social status of women: the awareness of stimuli and its direct expression, helplessness and depression, dependence and autonomy and give a chance to determine the specific content of psychotherapy to their client. More specific issues are often related to financial independence, sexual preference, alternatives to sex roles in building relations, selection of work and family starting.
Feminist therapists support the attempts to make life choices, which may be opposite to the expectations of the social environment (e.g., to remain childless, to choose non-traditional work or to create lesbian families), and criticize the submission of women that they have no alternatives to traditional gender roles. Feminist therapists welcome the submission of the client on their personal strength and ability to make independent decisions, encourage her to find support from other women in gaining changes.
The limitations of the Feminist theory
The therapy is seen as value-laden activity. The value system of the therapists affects their work. The attempts to hide it cause confusion among the clients and create the preconditions for the possible manipulation of personal beliefs and values submitted in the form of facts. Feminist therapists deal with this problem as follows: they openly proclaim their own values and offer to clients to do the same. The values which can potentially have a significant impact on the course of therapy (eg, associated with sex-role expectations, sexual attitudes and behavior, annoyance, and dependence) are specified from the outset, as well as in all therapy, reduces the possibility of manipulating a client. (Corey G., 2008)
Feminist therapists are usually women. Male therapists, even if they practice therapy, are free of sexism and relevant feminist principles, men face two obstacles. First, most men are not in a position to such an extent to overcome the imprint imposed by a process of socialization in order to be able to engage in a truly equal relationship with a woman. Secondly, it is believed that in a sexist society any relationship between man and woman is not equal, regardless of the goodwill of participants. So, the feminist theory is concentrated mainly on the relationships between women.
So, the feminist theory rejects the device, or medical model of mental health emanating from the fact that the source of emotional problems is inside the individual, and guidance to subordinate women’s social norms of sexism. The feminist theory rejects the therapeutic model which does not take the interpersonal relations of women in the broader social context. It is considered unacceptable to use the diagnostic labels, claiming the internal localization of the disease. (Brown L.S., 2008)
The sexist standards of mental health put women in an intolerable situation of double-bind and make them the victims of name-calling mental patients. Feminist therapy does not target the pathology, it rejects to blame the victims instead, and it examines the behavior from the point of view of adaptive qualities.
The awakening of political consciousness is often a component of therapy. Feminist therapists educate their clients in regard to gender stereotyping and communication problems with their private disempowerment of women as a social group. They are attentive to how they understand the client’s gender and how it may limit their ability to live a full life. They bring gender issues to the forefront and interact with their clients.
The Feminist Theory and Therapy
The empowerment of clients requires a redefinition of the forces in such a way that women can assert behavioral strategies for survival in the social system which denies their right to a public display of force. In other words, women are helped to recognize the strength they have, to value feminine virtue, and a better understanding of the strengths of their personality. The therapists encourage their clients to strengthen the forces of their own personality, to a greater degree of control of their lives, to greater autonomy, and the ability to direct their own lives. The course of therapy helps women to recognize and to assess the adequacy of their needs, perceptions, and behavior – to understand how it is the best way to survive in these circumstances. The women are helped to learn new modes of power through the relationship with the therapist, which is a model of equal relationship.
Feminist therapists accumulate more knowledge about the various problems which are usually experienced by women. The attention to women’s issues has allowed seeing the full significance of child abuse, physical aggression, sexual abuse and incest. It should be mentioned that great attention is paid to the issues which are connected with irritability in women, the perception of their body, and compulsive eating behavior, assertiveness, personal boundaries, depression, infertility, female sexual dysfunction, lesbianism, bisexuality, and pornography.
References
Ballou M., Hill M., West C. (2007). Feminist Therapy Theory and Practice: A Contemporary Perspective. Springer Publishing Company.
Brown L.S. (2008). Feminist Therapy (Theories of Psychotherapy). American Psychological Association (APA).
Corey G. (2008). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. Brooks Cole.