creating the future: practicing feminist multicultural therapy in conservative environments
TRANSCRIPT
Creating the Future:
Practicing Feminist Multicultural Therapyin Conservative Environments
Working Group Facilitators
Emma MansourElizabeth Gosset
William ElderLynette Averill
Sue Morrow
University of Utah
Working Group Members
• Jenny Arm• Jill Barber• Andy Case• Linda Castillo• Monica Cowart• Krista Curl• Telsie Davis• William Elder• Victoria Frehe
• Valerie Ignatenko• Roseanne Illes• Maureen Lafferty• Teri Madura• Emma Mansour• Crystale Marsh• Susan Mathews• A.J. Metz• Sue Morrow
More Working Group Members
• Soumya Palreddy• Diana Schofield• Amanda Smith• Erin Snyder• Sue Trotner• David Whitcomb
• In Absentia:• Lynette Averill• Elizabeth Gosset
Agenda
• Day 1– Introductions, Contexts, & Working
Definitions of Feminist Multicultural Work– Focus Groups: Challenges to Conducting
FMC in Conservative Environments
• Day 2– Strategies for Addressing Challenges to
Conducting FMC in Conservative Environments
– Recommendations/ Action Steps/ Projects
Components of FMT
• Social advocacy ~ using our positions of privilege & power to advocate for those who are oppressed
• Collaborative process• Co-creating• Commitment to the eliminating
oppression• Empowering the freedom to choose• Trusting ;yourself, using your voice
Components of FMT (Continued)
• Pain is a symptom that something needs to change
• Context• Truly embracing diversity, beyond
tolerance• Validating people’s pain, issues• Open minded exploration• Affirming people as they are• Client as functioning person, trust coping
strategies, resilience
Components of FMC (Con’t.)
Each individual as multidimensionalPolitical analysisUnderstanding cultural values, beliefs, and behaviors from a political contextViewing people from a multifaceted context, each person is a multicultural personRecognizing double binds, how privilege wounds everyone
Components of FMC (Con’t.)
Paying attention to power dynamics and differentials, assessing who benefitsIntersectionalityEmbracing the complexity and contradictions of feminism and multiculturalismIt’s okay to say, “That was wrong!” Naming what is wrong/ what we are doing
What Are the Challenges?
Being the token liberal in a contextSupport networks/ structures may be scarceWith clients, dealing with racism/ sexism/ etcCollective self-pityRadicalism is tamedHow much power can you display?How much empowerment to facilitate with clients/ students?Naming what you are doing, naming the oppression
What Are the Challenges?
Where you can reasonably intervene given oppressive forces (systemic, poverty, etc.)As students/ new professionals, what happens when we work in a FMC framework but faculty/supervisors do not?When those in power talk the talk and don’t walk the walkClients in struggle related to cultural beliefs vs empowermentDealing with anger in an empowering wayBeing patient with baby steps
What Are the Challenges?
Breaking the barrier of distrust in communitiesConflict between culture of profession and personal cultureLack of power, formal and informalMisunderstanding of what feminism and multiculturalism really meansGenerational issues ~ young women and feminismLack of safe environmentLimited resources and personal power to make change
What Are the Challenges?
People believing they’re multicultural or feminist when they’re not ~ “It’s in our mission statement!”Socialization to view self as source of the problemFinding the right words in the moment in the face of ignoranceOvert and covert intimidationDouble message: Actions don’t match valuesPersonal and professional risks to advocatingNegative reactions to identifying publicly as a feminist
What Are the Challenges?
Balancing professional lifestyle with personal valuesStruggle with being privileged and oppressed at the same timeSharing power (we’re not stealing it!)Finding balance between our vision and our reality, pacing of moving forwardCoping with hopelessness, isolation, burnoutWays to find our voice in any given situation that is not received as criticism, uncollegiality, creating distance
Strategies
Mentoring from outside environment, ½ a generation above youTo be hopeless is to dishonor those who have gone before” Cris WilliamsonThinking outside the box; finding creative solutionsAsk, “Do I have the energy for this?” Being intentional, choosing your battles; you don’t have to go to battle every timeYou need a variety of mentors ~ patchwork
Strategies
As a member of one minority group that is oppressing another group, choosing ways to educate without alienating those you need for supportNetworking to maintain supportEducating self and others as ongoing process & responsibilityWhen advocating, monitor own defenses to stay openPolitical advocacy needs to happen on a number of levels
Strategies
When there is a lack of diversity, bring resources in that will expose people to other cultures
Helping others to develop empathy
Identifying where the other person is in her/his own stage of identity and what they need for support and change
Being persistent
Know there will be discouragement and apparent lack of progress; use support systems
Initiating dialogues; be proactive, not reactive
Strategies
Look at what you have achieved
Advocate on a daily basis
Be patient with the process
When dealing with racist/sexist comments
Ask for clarification
Give yourself transition time
Transitional statements: “I’m having a strong reaction . . . “; “I’m going to take a risk there
Strategies
Validate your anger, present it in a productive way
Consult with colleagues before going into tricky situations
Having daily mottos, sayings, etc. to put on your door, book, etc. to have daily in your life to remind you of your support systems
Recognize that even the little things are forms of resistance
Audre Lorde: “I consider every act of care I do for my body as a political act.”
Strategies
Support and networking, support in our communities outside the university
Be assertive
Permission to not be perfect, know we will make mistakes
Challenge our own socialization
Knowing and understanding efficacy research re: FMC
Conduct research on FMC
Strategies
Develop language to communicate your own FMC perspective in a respectful way
Just sing a song (freedom songs) ~ music as a strategy
Performance art
Establish interdisciplinary relationships
Do things that re-energize you, activist work outside
Self care
Learn how to engage others in the process of understanding FMC, in dialogue
Next Steps & Opportunities for Involvement
Blog
Conversation hour at APA re: challenges, support, strategies/ panel discussion ~ presentation from this working group for Toronto
MORE PIE conversation hour!!!
Publishing
Distribution list
Find ways to be inclusive of people who might otherwise not join us in this work
Contact Information for Getting Involved
Emma Mansour ~ [email protected]
Elizabeth Gosset ~ [email protected]
William Elder ~ [email protected]
Lynette Averill ~ [email protected]
Sue Morrow ~ [email protected]
University of Utah ~ Ed Psych
1705 E Campus Center Dr Rm 327
Salt Lake City UT 84112-9255