Do Therapists Address Gender and Power in Infidelity? A Feminist Analysis of the Treatment Literature

Abstract

Sociocontextual factors such as gender and power play an important role in the etiology of affairs and in recovery from them, yet it is unclear how current treatment models address these issues. Drawing on feminist epistemology, this study utilized a grounded theory analysis of 29 scholarly articles and books on infidelity treatment published between 2000 and 2010 to identify the circumstances under which gender and power issues were or were not part of treatment. We found five conditions that limit attention to gender and power: (a) speaking (or assuming) as though partners are equal, (b) reframing infidelity as a relationship problem, (c) limiting discussion of societal context to background, (d) not considering how societal gender and power patterns impact relationship dynamics, and (e) limiting discussion of ethics on how to position around infidelity. Analysis explored how each occurred across three phases of couple therapy. The findings provide a useful foundation for a sociocontextual framework for infidelity treatment.

Toward Mutual Support: A Task Analysis of the Relational Justice Approach to Infidelity

“…The application of feminist philosophy has transformed ethical treatment for many couple's issues (Goldner, ; Lyness & Lyness, ). Yet this sensibility has been missing from the infidelity literature (Williams & Knudson‐Martin, ). The results of this task analysis encourage therapists to organize the process of therapy in relation to the underlying power differences between the partners and, in heterosexual relationships, make the connection between these power processes and gender explicit.…”

“…This is an ethical issue; as the couple distress hypothesis assumes equality in a relationship that is not inherently equal (e. g., Goldner, ). Moreover, traditional gender ideology, based on the legacy of patriarchy, influences reasons for engaging in infidelity (i.e., Scheinkman, ; Williams, ; Williams & Knudson‐Martin, ) and perpetuates gendered power imbalances in heterosexual relationships (Mahoney & Knudson‐Martin, ; Scheinkman, ). Therefore, framing affairs as a couple issue without considering the gendered social context can overlook underlying inequality in the relationship prior to the affair and promote power imbalances.…”

“…Many approaches to working with affairs in couple therapy consider contextual factors such as family of origin, culture, and relationship processes as part of the assessment for understanding how infidelity occurred (Gordon, Baucom, & Snyder, ; Gorman & Blow, ). Some approaches also bring awareness of gender or power into treatment conceptualization (Fife, Weeks, & Gambescia, ; Gorman & Blow, ), but clinical models for infidelity do not actually address how to work with these important issues (Williams & Knudson‐Martin, ). The Relational Justice Approach (RJA) to infidelity (Williams, ) is unique in that it places attention to gender and power processes between the partners as the fulcrum for clinical change.…”

Gendered Power, Spirituality, and Relational Processes: Experiences of Christian Physician Couples

“…Clinicians should assess for gendered power inequality, focusing specifically on couple's directional dialogue, patterns of interactions, and emotional tones. Clinicians are encouraged to aid gendered power-imbalanced couples in increasing their awareness of imbalances and foster new couple experiences of being relationally oriented (see Fishbane, 2011;Knudson-Martin & Huenergardt, 2010;Williams, Galick, Knudson-Martin, & Huenergardt, 2012).…”

Competencies for Addressing Gender and Power in Couple Therapy: A Socio Emotional Approach

“…As a result, persons in powerful positions are often unaware of their influence and may not feel powerful (Kimmel, ). When power is imbalanced, relational change is initiated when the person in a dominant position takes a more relational orientation (Fishbane, ; Huenergardt & Knudson‐Martin, ; Williams & Knudson‐Martin, ).…”