Am J Psychiatry 1976; 133:657-661
Copyright © 1976 by American Psychiatric Association
Cultural perspectives on the impact of women's changing roles on psychiatry
V Abernethy
The author examines sex role stereotypes in the United States and their
impact on the self-concept of women. She suggests that the fact that
women's roles are changing may have a positive impact on general mental
health because both men and women will profit from increased flexibility
ingender role specifications. She emphasizes the fact that therapists as
well as their patients have been socialized into accepting the values and
assumptions of our society; there is thus a high probability that not only
the presenting complaints but also the treatment goals for women in therapy
are culturally determined.
