Theory Critique Feminist and Post Modern Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Theory Critique Feminist and Post Modern - Essay Example Thus, Feminist therapy aims to empower women to push their own strengths to the fullest in order to gain the self-respect they need, regardless of what society dictates of them. Society has originally painted the ideal picture of women to be the nurturing, caring, weaker gender, dependent on the strengths and skills of men, and relegated to homemaking tasks. However, changing times have pressured them to be independent, self-reliant and strong members of the workforce. Such double standards have caused confusion and stress in women, adding more burden to her already heavy load. To quote from the textbook, the five goals for feminist therapy are: â€Å"equality, balancing independence and interdependence, empowerment, self-nurturance and valuing diversity. But the ultimate goal of feminist therapy is to create the kind of society where sexism and other forms of discrimination and oppression are no longer a reality.† This kind of therapy hopes to transform society by changing the way women view themselves. The feminist therapist, aware of women’s issues, must be sensitive enough to handle delicate concerns of the client. She (or he) must be willing to disclose her own experiences and use these as springboard to gain the client’s trust and to model empowered behavior. She must be clear about her own values, but discerning enough not to impose these on the client. She should know how to balance exploring both the inner and outer worlds of the client if the client is to find a way to take action in her own life. The therapist has enough influence on the client as to choosing the direction the client wants to take in her life. Ultimately, the therapist helps in guiding the client to be clear about her own needs and wants and to pursue it without being too conscious of what society has to say. Sometimes, though, the therapist may tread dangerous ground if the culture and value system of the client comes into the picture. If a woman