A Study of the Role of Gender in Family Therapy Training

Abstract

A survey of the role of gender in family therapy training programs was conducted by the Women's Task Force of the American Family Therapy Association (AFTA) in order to determine the extent to which gender issues were included in the curriculum. Questionnaires were sent to 285 programs in the U.S., Canada, and overseas. Only 19% (n = 55) of the original sample participated, with the East Coast representing the largest proportion of respondents. Findings revealed that the three most frequently addressed gender issues are: 1) the impact of cultural and economic conditions on single, female-headed families; 2) gender issues associated with wife abuse; and 3) an examination of the implications of the therapist's gender in therapy interventions. Only 27 programs identify with a feminist model or have a clearly defined sense of gender awareness. A significant finding associated with the introduction of feminist content was the difficulty of integrating gender issues with major theoretical models. Trainee resistance and lack of faculty awareness were also considered obstacles to including gender in program curriculum.

Now You See It, Now You Don't: Feminist Training in Family Therapy

“…These standards represent a marked change from the time prior to the feminist critique, when nothing about power and privilege was required concerning either race 1 or gender. Soon after the introduction of the standards in 1988, Coleman, Avis, and Turin (1990) surveyed 285 programs in the United States and abroad concerning feminist perspectives in training. Fifty‐five programs responded.…”

Erratum

“…Proponents of this method stress the importance of an in-depth study of gender because they feel it allows a more thorough exploration of personal gender beliefs by students (Avis, 1989;Josefowitz, 1980;. Course content usually covers women's history, feminist theories, a personal exploration of students' own beliefs and biases about gender, and fundamentals of feminist therapy (Avis, 1989;Caust, Libow, & Raskin, 1981;Coleman, Avis, & Turin, 1990;Faunce, 1985;Hare-Mustin, 1978). The difference between the two approaches is the degree to which gender is purposively focused on in a single course or purposively integrated into all aspects of the curriculum.…”

Gender‐Aware Supervision in Marriage and Family Counseling and Therapy: How Far Have We Actually Come?

“…Avis. and Turin (1990) found that MFC/T supervisors are only mildly (24%) or moderately (49%) interested in gender issues. Other surveys omit gender issues altogether (Henry.…”