Compare and Contrast Essay on Feminist Supervision and Gender Role Conflict

Introduction

Both feminist supervision and gender role conflict are psychological terms which share some similarities and differences. By definition, feminist supervision applied feminist theory principles with the aim of sharing accountability in process of supervision individuals with the aim of empowering those being supervised, examining gender roles and addressing psychological issues affecting clients (Degges-White, Colon, & Gainey, 2013). On the other hand, a gender role conflict is a form of psychological state whereby gender roles which are socialized produce negative consequences on an individual or other people (O'Neil, 2015). Feminist supervision related to gender role conflict because it exemplifies a commitment to disruption and interaction of non-conscious and manifest biased relationship with others with prominence on bender bias and how identities impact on psychotherapeutic dynamics and social relationships. On the other hand, gender role conflict happens in a wat that restrictive, sexist, or rigid gender roles cause a violation of other's rights and personal devaluation and restrictions. While gender role conflict explains the difference in the appreciation of the role of female and male members of the society in different roles, feminist supervision attempts to discover ways of removing the conflicts emanating from the restrictions of human capital basing on their gender. Brown (2016) attempts to relate feminist supervision with gender role conflict by describing the concept of feminist therapy supervision as a practice that depicts queer, multicultural and feminist psychologists. The difference it that gender role conflict explores both feminist and masculine roles. However, both attempts to challenge the assumptions and bias surrounding the distribution of power, informally and formally, in processes that lead to enhancement of lifestyles such as training and education which would otherwise elevate women to similar positions as men. According to O'Neil (2015), gender role conflict implies that in terms of domestic and occupational demand, there women remain disadvantaged as they encounter increased role conflict compared to men.

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Because inequality affects women the most, gender role conflict and feminist supervision are similar because they both rely on the concept of feminism in philosophical and theoretical discourse. Gender role conflict just like feminist supervision assists psychologists in understanding the nature of the concept of gender inequality as both examine the social roles of women and men, their chores, interest, and participation in a number of fields especially those dominated by men such as law and engineering. Bother gender role conflict and feminist supervision focus on the analysis of gender inequality as they explore common themes such as stereotyping, patriarchy, oppression, sexual objectification, and discrimination basing on gender. Degges-White, Colon, and Gainey (2013) confirm this by suggesting that feminist supervision extends beyond the concepts of gender to include sexuality, class, culture, race and other gender identify facets. In Brown's (2016) research, privilege, oppression, diversity and social diversity are the most common themes used in explaining the concept of feminist supervision are the researchers attempt to explain gender imbalance and distribution of power in the society.

Gender role conflict emanates from three different scenarios. First, gender role conflicts are caused by behaviors resulting from individuals deviating or violating gender role norms in the society. Secondly, it can occur from the attempt to meet or the failure to satisfy the gender norm set forth by either feminist or masculinity ideology. Lastly, gender role conflicts can result from the discrepancies in experience and in individual difference between ideal and real self-concepts basing on stereotypes and feminist or masculinity ideologies (O'Neil, 2015). The fact that women remain the most disadvantaged individuals in almost every aspect of life in contemporary society makes both gender role conflict and feminist supervision similar in that they both disapprove masculinity constructs and ideology. This is because the present-day society still represents masculinity ideologies as standards and primary value which play a critical role in defining, restricting and affecting women and men's lives. In that way, both gender role conflict and feminist supervision attempt to remove the stereotypes and beliefs which places men as the most important individuals in the society. Doing this will require individuals to challenge there cultural understanding of the role and capability of women in different roles. This is because of the internalized and endorsed cultural belief system where male gender and masculinity constructs are deeply rooted in the development of structural societal relationships including occupying senior positions and doing certain roles (Heppner, 2012).

As the society continue defining role sets, expectations and behaviors as feminine or masculine, there is an embodiment of these issues such that they are considered as appropriate for females or males. Feminist supervision is needed to solve the conflict arising from the psychological states of the gendered behaviors and roles to avoid their negative consequences affecting the subjects or other members of the society. The most common consequence of gender role conflict is psychological distress following individuals, mostly women, deviating from the healthy states of being. The role of psychotherapist and other health providers arises from psychological distress because gendered role conflicts lead to maladaptive patterns for adjusting and managing the consequences. O'Neil (2015) explains that gender inequality causes psychological distress by creating a complex setting and world of social prospects where affected individuals experience feelings of discrimination and marginalization due to their gender. Psychopathological symptoms that must be managed following the distress include problematic and isolated relationships, loneliness, anxiety, anger, depression, and restlessness.

It is thus evident that gender inequality and problems caused by feminism and masculinity in the society have negative consequences. It is for that reason feminist supervision is essential in bringing the collaborative relationship between involved experts addressing psychological distress and associated symptoms as it entails the application of responsible actions, focus on social contextual issues, genuine dialogue and mutual respect (Heppner, 2012). There is a need for clinicians, supervisors, and psychotherapists to develop a framework for addressing gender role issues using the feminist therapy constructs which include the recognition of the influence and role of systemic hierarchies and culture in supervision settings and psychotherapy practice. On the other hand, feminist supervision assists in the incorporation of practices that originate from critical psychologies, queer and multicultural aspects related to feminist therapy supervision which are often challenging to psychotherapists. The major challenge is engaging in difficult conversations about gender bias and the distribution of power in society as the major triggers of gender inequality (Brown, 2016). In particular, feminist supervision examines the social constructs of self-reflexivity, social activism, and gender diversity including the analysis of boundaries and power. As Brown (2016) suggests, feminist supervision model has the benefit if promoting a lens or ways of implementing supervision of gender inequality through active negotiations of diversity and power, role boundaries and development considerations, transparency and collaboration. In essence, feminist supervision disapproves the concept of just therapy and emphasize on advocacy and justice in the process of eradicating gender inequality that places women at disadvantage both in domestic and occupational roles.

In O'Neil's (2015) book which concentrates on gender role conflict, there are a number of ways in which feminist theory can be applied in addressing complex societal needs. There is an assessment tool applied in gender role conflicts that are related to feminist supervision which psychotherapists and clinicians can use in understanding the societal needs and other issues such as interpersonal relationship problems, psychological health and dysfunctional behaviors linked with racism, gender violence, and sexism. Distribution of power and the lack of women's voices in contemporary society are the leading reasons behind the limitation of successful implementation of psychological assistance to victims of gender role conflicts and psychological distress. O'Neil (2015) demonstrates that the most preferable litmus test for solving complex societal needs related to gender inequality in society is the use of counseling psychology.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the concepts of feminist supervision and gender role conflicts share some similarities and differences. First, they both exemplify a certain form of involvement in the disruption and interaction of non-conscious and manifest biased relationship between individuals of different genders with emphasis on gender bias and how identities impact on psychotherapeutic dynamics and social relationships. It is evident that feminist supervision and gender conflict both seek to address gender inequality because feminist supervision emphasizes and supports equality among women and women. Similarly, gender role conflict addresses the variation in power and privilege, conflicts and inequality between women and men. Clinicians and psychotherapists can use both feminist supervision and gender role concepts in implementing policies for eradicating gender inequality through active negotiations of diversity and power, role boundaries and development considerations, transparency and collaboration.

References

Brown, L. (2016). Supervision Essentials for the Feminist Psychotherapy Model of Supervision. New York: American Psychological Association.

Degges-White, S., Colon, B., & Gainey, C. (2013). Counseling Supervision Within a Feminist Framework: Guidelines for Intervention. Journal of Humanistic Counselling, 52(1), 92-105. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1939.2013.00035.x.

Heppner, P. (2012). The Gender Role Conflict Literature. Washington DC: American Psychological Association,

O'Neil, J. (2015). Men's Gender Role Conflict: Psychological Costs, Consequences, and an Agenda for Change. Washington DC: American Psychological Association.