Dilemmas of Power and Equality in Marital and Family Counseling: Proposals for a Feminist Perspective

Abstract

The author compares the assumptions and practices emerging from family systems and feminist counseling. Three major areas of convergence and divergence are examined: (a) the nature of problem definitions, (b) notions about power and appropriate sex roles in relationships, and (c) characteristics of the therapeutic relationship. A feminist perspective, which attends to societal concerns as well as issues within the nuclear family, has the potential for improving marital and family counseling. Suggestions are provided for integrating family systems and feminist concepts.

The Feminist Couple Therapy Scale: A Measure of Therapists' Ability to Promote Equality in Couple Relationships

“…The item analysis revealed another interesting trend related to the frequency with which participants reported engaging in unbalancing practices. The feminist literature clearly addresses the importance of therapists using practices that directly address the power imbalances inherent in heterosexual relationships (Avis, 1992;Enns, 1988;Parker, 1997;Rampage, 2002a;Silverstein, 2003). The results of this study indicate that on average participants were less likely to report engaging in behaviors that redistributed power in heterosexual couple relationships.…”

“…Feminist clinicians also recommend using practices designed to unbalance power structures to create greater equality (Knudson-Martin & Mahoney, 2005;Parker & Almeida, 2001;Silverstein, 2003). This can also be described as taking a nonneutral position in an attempt to avoid reinforcing patriarchal norms in couple relationships (Avis, 1992;Enns, 1988;Parker, 1997). Rampage (2002a) argues that "neutrality is implicitly supportive of the status quo, which in a sexist society, means that neutrality is an inherently pro-sexist position" (p. 262).…”

“…8-9). Another feminist practice designed to foster equality in heterosexual couple relationships involves helping men to become more emotionally expressive (Enns, 1988(Enns, , 2004Rampage, 2003). This process of helping men become more connected to their emotions and better able to express them in their relationships is an important means of challenging the constraints patriarchy places on men and men's relationships with their intimate partners (Enns, 2004;Knudson-Martin & Mahoney, 2005).…”

Feminism and Family Social Work

“…Beginning in 1978 with Rachel Hare-Mustin's feminist critique of family therapy, efforts to formulate the theoretical base of feminist family therapy have continued (Braverman, 1988;Enns, 1988;Pilalis & Andelton, 1986;Wheeler, Avis, Miller, & Chaney, 1986). These efforts have culminated recently with the publication of several texts intended to address the needs of the feminist family therapy practitioner (Goodrich, Rampage, Ellman, & Halstead, 1988;McGoldrick, Anderson, & Walsh, 1989;Walters, Carter, Papp, & Silverstein, 1988).…”

Systemic Thinking in a Linear World: Issues in the Application of Interactional Counseling

“…Cases involving family violence most often involve not only clients but also other mental health professionals and other social and legal service agencies. Because there is debate in some circles concerning the appropriateness of interactional approaches in such cases (Dell, 1986;Imber-Black, 1986;Zerbe Enns, 1988), this example highlights the controversies that the interactional counselors are likely to encounter and helps them be better prepared to work effectively with such problems. Because spouse abuse is a complex and emotionally charged issue for the client, the counselor, and the community, it will easily highlight the complex treatment, ethical, and legal challenges that face the interactional counselor.…”