Some keys for a feminist-oriented psychotherapy in women victims of gender violence

Abstract

The work we present in this article is part of a wider project in which we examine the question of psycho-therapeutic aid given to female victims of gender violence, and its necessary adaptation to a feminist perspective in order that the issue should be seen in all its true complexity. If we start with the premise that gender violence is fuelled by patriarchal suppositions – and therefore– by an absolute asymmetry in sexual roles, the transformation process of the female victim needs to go beyond a simple change of behaviour or of individual improvement strategies, to encompass an understanding of the social and cultural mechanisms which have influenced the origin of the problem, in order to achieve a true improvement of these women and their future circumstances.

Keywords

• violencia de género
• psicoterapia
• perspectivas feministas
• estructura patriarcal
• empoderamiento