The impact of feminist theory and gender theory discourses on psychosocial work

Abstract

This article is based on a so far unpublished cooperation of the author with Surur Abdul-Hussain on concepts of »mankind« in the feminist discourse and its implications on psychotherapy (Schigl & Abdul-Hussein in preparation). The following article focuses on the reciprocal influence between feminist and gender theories and different kinds of research and projects within the women’s health movement. Therefore paradigms of feminist theories are presented in the first place (see Abdul Hussein in press, for more details). The author investigates how and where feminists‹ theoretical assumptions appear and are integrated in the psychosocial and clinical practice. Furthermore, it is demonstrated how the development of theories and spheres of activity interact in a valuable and interdependent way.