Counseling and Gender

This book introduces mental health professionals and students to gender issues involved in professional practice, research, and teaching. The book emphasizes an intersectional and inclusive framework as an effective way to better understand gender, addressing the available evidence for defining and measuring gender and gender-related psychological processes, as well as discussing the social/political implications of gender for individuals, families, and the larger society. The authors describe racial, cultural, and ethnic underpinnings that are key to understanding the definition and impact of gender in the daily lives of individuals, families, and communities, as well as the larger society. Among the topics discussed: Cultural and historical bases of gender, especially gender roles and the gender binary Experiences of privilege and oppression Prejudice and discrimination based on gender Intersections of gender and social group experiences, based on race ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES) and sexual orientation Common clinical concerns, including relationships, families, education and career Affirmative and liberatory therapies