The “Incestuous Family” Revisited: A Critical Analysis of Family Therapy Myths

Abstract

From a feminist perspective, the family therapy literature concerning incest fails to perceive the patriarchal context of abusive behavior and consequently blames the victim. This paper critiques the family therapy literature by drawing on the feminist discourse concerning incest. Several pervasive myths are identified: (a) that fathers and mothers are pathologically disturbed or inadequate; (b) incest is caused by separation and loss; (c) family isolation or a rigid external boundary explains incest; and (d) incest serves a function in maintaining family organization. By analyzing the contradictions arising from these polemical positions, we propose criteria for developing an adequate clinical account of incest.

Best practice guidelines for health service professionals who receive initial disclosures of sibling sexual abuse

“…A patriarchal nuclear family structure places females in a subordinate position, creating an environment that enables abuse to occur (James & McKinnon 1990;Laviola 1992;Caffaro & Conn-Caffaro 1998) and reduces the likelihood of reporting for all types of sexual abuse (Alaggia & Kirshenbaum 2005). A female youth may be vulnerable to SSA by a same age or even a somewhat younger sibling in a family in which male needs and desires are given primacy and isolation is experienced (James & MacKinnon 1990;Conn-Caffaro & Caffaro 1993).…”

“…SSA often involves the use of coercion, force and threat to create and maintain secrecy around the abuse (DeJong 1989;James & MacKinnon 1990;Canavan et al 1992;Laviola 1992;Adler & Schutz 1995;Rudd & Herzberger 1999;Hardy 2001;Carlson et al 2006;Ballantine 2012), the use of which precludes genuine consent being given by the victim. A greater level of verbal threat and physical force is employed by brothers who sexually abuse their sisters compared to other intrafamilial abusers (Adler & Schutz 1995;Rudd & Herzberger 1999), with some girls reluctant to fight back against physical force due to the fear of further physical abuse (Laviola 1992).…”

Sibling Incest Dynamics: Therapeutic Themes and Clinical Challenges

“…Feminists note that incestuous families are likely to have adopted patriarchal values whereby power is accorded to males including brothers who then use the power for abuse. (Cole 1982;Dominelli 1989;James and MacKinnon 1990;Phillips-Green 2002).…”

“…For the purposes of this discussion sibling incest is conceptualized as sexual acts between siblings that are initiated by one sibling without the other's consent. Tactics by which the offender gains compliance of the victim include the use of a power differential between the siblings and various forms of coercion including bribes, threats, trickery, and force (Carlson et al 2006;Cole 1982;James and MacKinnon 1990;Phillips-Green 2002;Worling 1995). Sometimes it is difficult to determine a victim's lack of consent because offenders use trickery and the naiveté of the victim to overcome resistance.…”

Exposing racism, exploring race

“…At its most extreme, a neutral or non-partisan stance meant that the interests of the perpetrators of violence or abuse were served at the expense of the abused (Bograd, 1992). Failing to take account of inequalities of power and influence meant that theories were detached from the practical problems they purported to address (James and MacKinnon, 1990;MacKinnon and Miller, 1987).…”