Theory Series: Feminist Theory
Unlike most theories, Feminist Theory (FT) does not have a particular founder. Instead, it evolved from the feminist movement that gained traction primarily in the 1960s-1970s and is currently enjoying a resurgence in momentum. For those who are unfamiliar, the movement emerged out of a desire for liberation on behalf of women who felt there was a power imbalance between the sexes coming out of the 1950s “housewife” days. Women across the US pushed for equality, both in the context of their legal rights and in the society's expectations of women in the workplace, at home, and with their sexuality.
Social movements typically come in waves as time passes and they evolve. As such, the feminist movement underwent 3 major transformations (arguably more) with FT following suit. The three phases of FT are as follows:
The first wave began in the 1960s and was labeled Radical. Its focus was to democratize the therapeutic process and remove the power dynamic between the therapist and the client, regarding both parties as equal. It also promoted the idea of androgyny as therapeutic, positing that if women could achieve androgyny, they would be considered equal to men.
The second wave began in the 1990s and was labeled Liberal. This phase moved away from essentialist views on feminism (such as holding androgyny as a goal) focusing more on personality and female identity. This also marked a shift away from regular diagnoses, as the process focused more on personal struggles and the circumstances that caused them.
The third wave of FT is occurring in the present day, labeled Moderate. This wave is marked by a focus on multiculturalism. Because FT was founded to identify and rectify power imbalances, its scope applies readily to multicultural individuals as well. Furthermore, it now incorporates considerable political activism as part of its aim.
FT is easily one of the more contentious theories today as it has evolved beyond the focus on equality and adopted more and more political applications. Critics often point to this evolution as a failure to uphold the structural ideals that were present during its origin. The idea of androgyny has also been met with considerable pushback by onlookers who believe there are inherent differences between the sexes. Although these ideas were formally abandoned, many believe it is still the aim of FT to make men and women androgynous. However, FT’s focus on abolishing uneven power dynamics has had an undeniable impact in the eradication of myriad unjust power abuse dynamics that have been historically typical in relationships. This can lead to the invaluable liberation of the oppressed party in the present day, regardless of their sex.
As someone who was born well within the women’s liberation movement, I see FT as somewhat of an anachronistic misnomer that can, unfortunately, trigger contentious power struggles between the sexes. At the core of FT is the pursuit of equality, which is a message that I feel is too often forgotten in surrounding discussions. Additionally, although I support a dynamic of felt equality between a counselor and client, some sort of power dynamic will inevitably influence the relationship at some point. After all, counselors are hired, making clients customers, who deserve respect as such. Counselors are also experts in human experience as well, meaning there will be situations in which their opinions should be regarded with more respect.
For more on FT, I recommend reading Feminist Therapy Theory and Practice: A Contemporary Perspective by Mary Ballou, PhD. This book illustrates the modern form of FT and explores the apropos role that FT has in modern American society. Happy reading!
