Successful therapy moves us beyond our limiting personal beliefs; so does it follow that psychotherapy can challenge the dominance of patriarchy? According to Dr. Carol Gilligan, an early leader within feminist psychology and one of the field’s most prolific authors, the answer is a resounding yes. In this illuminating personal interview, Gilligan challenges the long-held idea of “patriarchy” as the oppression of women by men, examining it instead as an insidious, systemic set of gender constructs we’re all held to, and all diminished by. She then links these ideas to psychotherapy, highlighting its role in supporting our openness to vulnerability—the key to our collective healing and an urgently needed paradigm shift.
Calling feminism “one of the great liberation movements in human history,” Gilligan argues that not only is patriarchy alive and well, but our mainstream definition itself is flat-out wrong. Holding that “patriarchal femininity” requires women to be selfless in order to maintain relationships, Gilligan laments the negative impact this distortion has on both mother-child bonding and children’s development of a strong sense of self.
Over a series of brief, themed segments, Gilligan makes the case that patriarchal gender norms compromise our authentic expression and limit our capacity for real connection, leaving both women and men disconnected from their true feelings, their own sons and daughters, and the very practice of democracy. Psychotherapy, she maintains, can support women’s empowerment by getting them in touch with the pain that leads them to deny their own pleasure—an action condoned by a culture that looks disdainfully on women’s desire.
Wherever you stand on feminism, you’ll find this a deeply rich interview marked by Gilligan’s incisive, engaging style. There’s plenty to chew on in this concise video, so be sure to take a look.
