A Feminist Conceptual Analysis of the Predominant Introductory Textbook in Couple and Family Therapy Training

This paper presents the results of a conceptual analysis that explored the presence of antifeminist language in a predominant introductory textbook in the field of couple and family therapy. The study revealed that 46.2% of the examples used in the textbook were sexist/antifeminist in that they described women in negative and stereotypical ways. The paper presents a chapter by chapter breakdown of the antifeminist examples, the three themes that emerged from the conceptual analysis, and results from qualitative interviews with female graduate students related to their experiences of reading the textbook. Recommendations for book authors and educators are also presented. (C) 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.