Feminist theory

Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical, or philosophical, ground. It encompasses work done in a broad variety of disciplines, prominently including the approaches to women's roles and lives and feminist politics in anthropology and sociology, economics, women's and gender studies, feminist literary criticism, and philosophy especially Continental philosophy (Brabeck and Brown, 1997).

Feminist theory aims to understand the nature of inequality and focuses on gender politics, power relations and sexuality. While generally providing a critique of social relations, much of feminist theory also focuses on analyzing gender inequality and the promotion of women's rights, interests, and issues. Themes explored in feminism include discrimination, stereotyping, objectification (especially sexual objectification), oppression, and patriarchy (Chodorow, 1989; Gilligan, 1977; Lerman, 1982).

Psychoanalytic feminism

Main article: Psychoanalytic feminism

Psychoanalytic feminism is based on Freud and his psychoanalytic theories. It maintains that gender is not biological but is based on the psycho-sexual development of the individual. Psychoanalytical feminists believe that gender inequality comes from early childhood experiences, which lead men to believe themselves to be masculine, and women to believe themselves feminine. It is further maintained that gender leads to a social system that is dominated by males, which in turn influences the individual psycho-sexual development. As a solution it was suggested to avoid the gender-specific structurization of the society by male-female coeducation. A form of psychoanalytic feminism, with an emphasis on object relations (i.e. the child's bond with the mother's breast), whose leading theorist was Nancy Chodorow, became very popular in sociology and cultural anthropology in the 1980s and 90s. It also made it's way into literary criticism, especially at the University of California, Berkeley, where Chodorow teaches.

Radical feminism

Radical feminism believes that the root of the problem is patriarchy itself. Therefore, the radical feminist calls to dismantle the patriarchy altogether to solve the problem. The extreme radical feminists call for the destruction of the entire male sex, as shown in Valerie Solanas' misandrous writing, SCUM Manifesto. Andrea Dworkin is probably the most influencial feminist of this ilk. She has published many books that have become canonized on college syllabuses, including Woman Hating, Pornography, and Intercourse. She also writes about antisemitism and it's connection to gender issues. She is most well-known for her claim, often presented in collaboration with femininist legal theorist Catherine Mckinnon, that sex between a man and a woman in society where women have less power amounts to a rape of the woman by the man. Her novel, Mercy, is about an agry woman who fights back.

Main article: Radical feminism

Liberal feminism

Liberal feminism looks at the ways in which women are excluded from power and prevented from playing a full part in political activity. It asks why women are marginalized and it wants the same opportunities afforded to women as afforded to men.

Socialist feminism

Main article: Socialist feminism

There exists a common ground between socialist and radical feminists in so far as both factions believe that only with the abolition of the current hegemonic state, can true equality exist between men and women. Unlike radicals however, Socialist feminists do believe that men can coexist with women in this post-capitalist vision of the future. This is because socialists suspect the capitalist system to be the root cause of female oppression, rather than males themselves. A belief amongst socialists of any kind is that a population can be nurtured into a state of equality, and as such, would have no need to separate men from women. With the abolition of the class structure, a socialist may argue, comes the erosion of male domination within society. Radical Women, an organization founded in 1967 in Seattle, WA, and now with branches in a number of U.S. cities, Australia, and El Salvador, is the foremost advocate of socialist feminist organizing today.

Marxist feminism

Main article: Marxist feminism

Social aspects in the marxist ideal of the oppressed people who will rise. Marxist feminist theory basically states that the class struggle is the feminist struggle.

Feminists suggest that the relationship of men and women must be understood as one of unequal power, specifially one of traditional subjugation and oppression of women by men.

Postmodern feminism

Main article: Postmodern feminism

Postmodern Feminism emphasizes the stereotypical female roles, only to portray them as parodies of the original beliefs. The history of feminism is not important in this section, but only what is going to be done about it. In fact, the history is dismissed and used to depict better how ridiculous the past beliefs were.

Modern feminist theory has been extensively criticized as being predominantly, though not exclusively, associated with western middle class academia. Mainstream feminism has been criticized as being too narrowly focused, and inattentive to related issues of Race and class.

Limitations and Criticisms

The theory is neither in line with the basic identity of men and women nor those it support a blend of techniques to help not only female clients but male clients as well (Williams, 2007). In psychology, the media had present a negative picture of the male and female gender, defining what man and woman should be like. For example, the media portrays women as being tall, thin, and attractive whereas men are portray as being physically fit, athletic, and aggressive. Although, these traits may seem true, the view is entirely narrow-minded (Williams, 2002). In theology, Proverbs 31 provides the characteristics of the woman and perhaps I Timothy 3 describes the characteristics of the man. The feminist theory is the total opposite of the traditional roles of men and women. Perhaps, we should not look to the media to help us understand issues face by men and women.

It seems like that the women behind the feminist theory (Enns, 1993; Miller, 1986; Espin, 1987; and Brown, 1992)are seeking more than just equality in society and the home, but they suggest that women is better than men and should take their rightful place in society. In the secular realm, some feminist therapists may become overzealous and imposing personal beliefs on the client. All therapists should use a combination of techniques that both male and female clients can benefit from. Many critics believe the theory is one-dimensional and narrow-minded (Brown, 1992; Bem, 1993; Biaggio and Hersen, 2000; Mcintosh, 1988). In the Christian realm, the bible never said anything like that. If you read I Corinthians 7 and Ephesians 5, the roles of women and men are clearly defined by God. These roles don’t take away from what women can do. It only means that any philosophy that tends to supersede the bible or the basic social roles of men and women cannot be accepted. The media has done a poor job in clearly defining the roles men and women play in society. Women can do just about anything men can do, but just like other theories, being too radical about a particular theory can give way to strong opposition and limitations (Walker, 1994; Williams, 2007).

Women should not remain invisible, but to strive for anything that men can do, but it should not a popularity contest to see who can do things better. However, we cannot avoid the basic traits that both men and women have different. Instead of trying to make one gender better than the other, men and women therapist should work together to find common ground on the best techniques to help women clients. In the secular word, women such as Hilary Rodham Clinton, Maya Angelou, Shirley Chisom, and Harriet Tubman made excellent contributions to society that is cross-genders. So are the much anointed women in biblical days such as Mary, Mary Magdalene, Deborah, Esther, Ruth, Susanna, Aquilla, Pricilla, and Rahab.

There is no question that women should have the same opportunities as men. In fact, a woman can actually be a minister or pastor as long as there is a male in leadership other her. Only a few Christian denominations outline it in clear detail. In society, there are women who are truck drivers, construction workers, and electricians and that should be applauded. Feminist therapists should be neutral when it comes to counseling women to have choices instead of trying to change the social, Christian, or psychology (Corey, 2005).

What about male counselors? How can they ever use the feminist theory? There is an ongoing debate on whether or not men should be feminist counselors. Male counselors using this theory have to be more empathetic to what women are going through without being totally male-oriented (Williams, 2007). When using other types of therapy, feminist counselor can be very effective if sexist behavior is confronted, a redefinition of masculinity and femininity, and working towards more egalitarian relationships (Brown, 1994; Corey, 2005)

The women behind the feminist theory is correct to say that there needs to be an attempt to reeducate society how to treat women and to mend "the cold war of the genders", but if it goes outside biblical principles, the theory will not work. The media plays a huge role in who men and women are portrayed (Williams, 1990). Some are negative and some are positive. The question face male therapist, how can a man use this theory? In man's understanding of the female gender, man will never be able to understand them because they are too busy trying to understand them (Williams, 2005). So, why are there more female counselors than men? The feminist theory, founded by middle-class white women suggested that female therapist address the male-dominated field of psychology to address issues such as racism, sexism, and oppression (Herlihy and Corey, 1992, 1996, 1997). Ivey, D'Andrea, Ivey, and Simek-Morgan (2002) believed that theories such as Adlerian therapy, Gestalt therapy, cognitive behavior, reality therapy, and person-centered therapy were founded by white men don't address women's issues. That isn't true. Most theories are moving towards a cross-gender point of few and seem to work in many of our counseling therapies today (Corey, 2005; Williams, 2007). Radical feminists, socialist feminists, and lesbian feminists are not only too radical in the quest for social change but also blunt to stamp out anything that is male-oriented (Worell and Remer, 1993). The feminist theory have not truly find ways to reeducate men and women about gender related issues but view it as a political and social battle of excellence (Williams, 1991). If feminist therapists don’t use more than one technique, they can be labeled as feminists having a one-minded track for changes in society.

The feminist theory was probably stemmed from the era of woman suffrage of the 1920s and the 1970s where women demanded equality in society. However, when some people read about this theory, it's truly assuming that feminist theory may had created the "cold war of the genders" (Williams, 1990). If you hear it in the songs, literature, and the movies, men and women are constantly fighting for "power" that Enns (2001) had mentioned as a therapeutic technique. I find it to be very disturbing and wish that men and women will find common ground.

There are differences in the roles of women who are single and marriage. The bible provides a basis for this which can be diversified into sociology, psychology, and theology. In Proverbs 31, the entire chapter can be used to describe a marriage woman and a single woman. I Corinthians 7 speak about married and single woman. and Ephesians 4 or 5 talks about married woman. Why would God say things like "a woman can tear up her household", "woman should not speak in the church", "flee from youthful lust" (Paul told Timothy that statement). What about when God addressed men as "sons" and warned us to stay away from certain kinds of women? Maybe the answers to these questions can help us better understand the feminist theory and take the good and bad (as every other theory of counseling and psychotherapy has to deal with).

References:

• Spreading Misandry: The Teaching of Contempt for Men in Popular Culture; Paul Nathanson and Katherine K. Young, McGill-Queen's University Press, Montreal, 2001; ISBN 0-7735-2272-7

• Legalizing Misandry: From Public Shame to Systemic Discrimination against Men; Paul Nathanson and Katherine K. Young, McGill-Queen's University Press, Montreal, 2006; ISBN 0-7735-2862-8

External links

• Feminist theory website (Center for Digital Discourse and Culture, Virginia Tech University)
• Feminist Theories and Anthropology by Heidi Armbruster
• [1] The Radical Women Manifesto: Socialist Feminist Theory, Program and Organizational Structure (Seattle: Red Letter Press, 2001)