Feminist Psychology

Paper Summary:

The paper examines the shortcomings and limitations of the feminist approach to counseling. The paper discusses how this approach initially overlooked women of color and how feminist therapy has responded with recent modifications of being more inclusive. The paper concludes that feminist psychology in favor of inclusion should act as a guide for the future attempt to bring non-feminist psychology and feminist psychology in line with the cultural diversity that exists in our increasingly global environment.

From the Paper:

"Addressing the need for change, one of the pioneers of feminist psychology expressed the innate problem of the patriarchal system that was in place prior to the demands of women to enter the system and help elicit change. The concerns of this pioneer, Naomi Weisstein were that the attempt to redress and develop ideas about women's ability and value, as it applies to their human strengths and limitations, is built entirely on the foundation of masculine ideas about the strengths and weaknesses of women, as well as a sense of surety that is almost nauseating from a feminist perspective on many levels."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Baker, N. L. (2006). Feminist Psychology in the service of woman: Staying engaged without getting married. Psychology of Women Quarterly, (30)1, 1-14. Retrieved March 18, 2007, from Academic Search Premier database
• Baker, N. L. (2005). Feminist psychology goes to court. Psychology of Women Quarterly, (29)4, 448. Retrieved March 13, 2007, from PsycINFO database
• Bowers, A. M. V. & Bieschke, K. J. (2005). Psychologists' Clinical Evaluations and Attitudes: An Examination of the Influence of Gender and Sexual Orientation. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, (36)1), 97-103. Retrieved March 13, 2007, from PsyARTICLES database
• Brown, N. (2007). Counting us in: Pioneer of American Feminist Psychology. Psychology of Women Quarterly, (31) 1, 119-119. Retrieved March 18, 2007, from Academic Search Premier database
• Brown, L. S. (2006). Still subversive after all these years: The relevance of feminist therapy in the age of evidence-based practice. Psychology of Women Quarterly, (30)1, 15-24. Retrieved March 18, 2007, from Academic Search Premier database

More papers on Feminist Psychology:

• Term Paper # 105060 : "Feminist Therapy"
• Descriptive Essay # 128646 : "Women in Psychology: Karen Horney"
• Book Review # 40757 : "Echols, Psychology and Feminist Theory"

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