Women and Oppression

Presented by Janine BradleyCNGC 529 Multicultural Counseling

What is feminism?

What is feminism?• Different types of women have always disagreed

about which issues were most important, and what the "real meaning of feminism" is all about

• The term has constantly re-defined itself, and different groups of women have had varying degrees of comfort using it

• A culminating definition that can be used today: Feminism is the belief that men and women are equal. Because society inherently affords men more privilege, social movements are needed to achieve equality between men and women (Freedman, 2002).

What are some stereotypes about feminists?

Feminist StereotypesFeminists may be seen as:

Mannish

Lesbians

Man-haters

Are only white and upper middle class

Angry

Rejecting their gender

Historical Context

In agrarian past societies – women and men both worked equally to support the farm and household

During Industrial Revolution – idea of two “separate spheres”

1848, Seneca Falls, NY – first women’s rights convention held, led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton

1874 – women found the Women’s Christian Temperance Movement to prohibit alcohol

1878 - Women’s Suffrage Amendment is defeated in the senate. Will be brought back every congress until it passes in 1920

Mid to late 1800’s – many women are diagnosed with “Hysteria” or a disease of the womb

1909 - National Association of Colored Women has branches in 20 states

1920 – Women’s Suffrage passes

1940’s – US enters WWII, many women join workforce to support war effort

1963 – Equal Pay Act – Outlawed separate pay scales for men and women in the same jobs

1963 – Betty Freidan writes The Feminine Mystique – “the problem that has no name”

1964 – The Civil Rights Act - Title VII

1966 – Founding of NOW (National Organization for Women)

1967 – Affirmative Action

1972 - Women’s Educational Equity Act and Equal Credit Opportunity Act

1972 – Title IX of the 1964 Civil Rights Act is passed

1973 – Roe v. Wade – gave women access to abortions in certain scenarios

1978 – Pregnancy Discrimination Act

1993 – Family Medical Leave Act

1994 – Violence Against Women, reauthorized in 2013

ValuesIndependence

Family/Relationships

Career

Political Rights

Appearance

Gender Identity

Norms and Behaviors

Client VoiceInterview with a woman

Using the Counseling ForcesPsychodynamic - Not always well-suited for women, ties to the patriarchy, too much reliance on unconscious sexual tensions, rigid power structure between counselor and client

Cognitive-Behavioral - Women may benefit from psyhoeducation about gender roles, societal power differentials, unrealistic expectations and how these can affect women. Good for women who may prefer to talk about cognitions over feelings.

Existential-Humanistic - Can be helpful for crisis intervention, working with survivors, favors a more equal counseling relationship, beneficial because approach lets client take the lead

Multicultural - includes feminist therapies which emphasize an egalitarian relationship, empowerment, the recognition of inner strength, and discovering areas of personal growth. Helpful for women who are affected by sexism/patriarchy

Clinical ImplicationsFeminist therapies can be helpful for women

Foster egalitarian relationship

Help women recognize the sexist social structure that surrounds and constricts them

Help women explore their personal power

Help women realize unexpressed anger

Help women define themselves independently of their multiple roles

Encourage women to care for and take time for themselves

Encourage skill development and self-esteem

Do not rely on diagnoses, instead look at the implications of diagnoses

Understand that the personal is political

Survivors of sexual assault/rape: give them the power back, help them to feel in control of the situation, may experience phsycial symptoms of stress or anxiety

Counselors should be advocates for their clients and the issues that they face

Counseling Do's:Listen

Start with the positives

Recognize strengths

Get to know them

Understand multiple identities and obligations

Be an advocate for their issues

Strive for an egalitarian relationship

Counseling Don'ts:

Make assumptions

Make decisions for them

Inflict power differentials

Rely on gender roles or stereotyping

Rely on diagnoses

Questions?

Photo CreditsSlide 7a: http://drjoaniversen.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/i-want-to-vote-but-my-wife-wont-let-me.jpg

Slide 7b: http://drjoaniversen.com/womens-suffrage-postcards/#jp-carousel-476

Slide 10a: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/120215080128-contraceptive-2-story-top.jpg

Slide 10b: ://www.calculator.net/img/body-shape.gif

Slide 10c: http://kokh.images.worldnow.com/images/23654903_BG1.jpg

Slide 10d: http://cdn.business2community.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Healthy-Balance.jpg

Slide 10e: http://www.pasadenaadv.com/wp-content/uploads/He-Man-Woman-Haters-Club-Report.jpg

ReferencesChoate, L. H. (2009). Girls' and women's issues in counseling: a theory-based course design. Counselor Education and Supervision, 48(3), 179-193.

Freedman, E. B. (2002). No turning back: the history of feminism and the future of women. New York:Ballantine Books.

Howden, L. M. & Meyer, J. A. (2011). Age and sex composition: 2010 Census brief. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2014 from http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-03.pdf

Laws on violence against women. (2012, July 17). womenshealth.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2014, from http://womenshealth.gov/violence against-women/laws-on-violence-against-women/index.html

Lawson, D. M. (2003). Incidence, explanations, and treatment of partner violence. (Practice & Theory). Journal of Counseling and Development, 81(1), 19-32.

Levitt, D. (2004). Drive for thinness and fear of fat among college women: Implications for practice and assessment. Journal Of College Counseling, 7(2), 109-117.

Levitt, D. H. (2010, Fall). Women and leadership: a developmental paradox? Adultspan Journal, 9(2), 66-75.

Lundberg-Love, P. K., Nadal, K. L., & Paludi, M. A. (Eds.). (2012). Women and mental disorders (Vol. 1). Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.

Manninen, B. (2010). Rethinking Roe v. Wade: Defending the Abortion Right in the Face of Contemporary Opposition. American Journal Of Bioethics, 10(12), 33-46.

Newman, L. M. (1999). White women's rights: the racial origins of feminism in the United States. New York: Oxford University Press.

Rosenzweig, R., Lichtenstein, N., Brown, J., & Jaffee, D. (2008). Who built America? Working people and the nation's history (Vol. 2). (3 ed.). Boston: Bedford/St.Martin's.

Sue, D.W. and Sue, D. (2013). Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice (6th edition). New York : Wiley.