WOMEN'S GROWTH

COOPERATIVE

FEMINIST THERAPY

A major emphasis of the resurgent women's movement is the reclamation by women of the power to define their own identity. Women have become aware that they have been defined by outside individuals and institutions. These definitions have not reflected women's own experiences. In fact, women began to see that their own experiences were not reflected anywhere in the culture. Lacking self definition and in the absence of self reflection in the culture, women denied the reality of their own feelings and experiences.

Feminists recognize that the ways we define ourselves as women form the basis for our actualities, potentials, and dreams. The lack of self identity and the lack of validation of women's experiences has served to narrow women's visions of possible complex and varied roles in society. The process of self identity based on acceptance of the evidence of our own experience, regardless of cultural invalidation, is one that needs to move forward along with the struggle for access to tangible power of jobs, money, and other resources.

A major element of identity is psychological. An early and continued thrust of the women's movement is the analysis of what characteristics and be. haviors society has attributed to women. Feminists discovered that, lacking the power of self-naming, women have been defined in such a way that they mirror men. Women have had traits foisted upon them that men feared in themselves or even traits that men admired but found useless in their quest for access to tangible forms of power. When women looked at themselves in this mirror, the image reflected was often confusing or even grotesque--adults expected to be helpless and innocent, insatiably sexual yet pure and virginal, uncanny and intuitive but scatterbrained and ignorant, highly emotional yet sweetly dispositioned.

In consciousness raising groups and later in academe, feminists began to examine psychological suppositions about women. Not surprisingly, we

Mead and Body Changes

Awareness of one's emotional stance with attention given to ways in which inner forces-cultural and environmental impinge on the self. $15. Weekly in May, 4 sessions, 1 hour each. Lori Futterman and Karen Quay.

Myths and Realities of Middle Age Workshop

Is it true we're "only getting better?" We will examine some myths and fears about the menopause years and explore some questions of identity, transition skills, career choice and role decisions women face at this time. $30. May 14th, 10-5 and May 15th, 1-5. Pat Hoornstra.

learned that the contribution of Psychology to the understanding of women was almost non-existent.. indeed the "findings" of psychologists often just

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parodied popular wisdom, while deriving its validity from supposed scientific rationalism.

Women's reclamation of the right to identify themselves based on their own experiences and feelings is enormously powerful and healthy. This is particularly true since women have been driven mad or felt crazy as the result of their alienation from the culture. An outgrowth of the power and healing of the entire process of self identification is the development of a feminist therapy which will, in spiral fashion, accelerate both women's power and their healing.

Central to feminist therapy is the assumption that we, as women, have within us the ability to heal ourselves and to take control of our own lives. Feminist therapy seeks to undo the negative effects of the culture and establish a culture that supports personal growth and creativity for women. ways we seek to accomplish this are by:

The

1. Providing a non-evaluative, self-affirming setting for women as they tell their stories and become aware of their own experience;

Single Mother's Struggle

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We will check out the realities of our motherhood-exploring our gullt, anger, frustration and isolation as well as the beauty and joy of living with children. $25. Oate to be set when enough women register. Hetty Cowan and Wendy Passov,

2. Providing feedback which acknowledges the reality of a woman's experience as well as points out blind spots and new information;

3. Reducing the power differences between the helper and the client by identifying steps in the healing process and showing them to be natural and human rather than the result of the helper's mystical ability;

4. Reducing the power differential between helper and client by establishing a climate of mutual, rather than one-way, feedback;

5. Reducing the power differential by the helper's presenting to the client her political beliefs and counseling style so the client can decide about the correctness of this helper for her;

6. Working on the assumption that what are often viewed as neurosis and malfunctioning in women are actually appropriate responses to inappropriate situations. For example, depression may be seen as an understandable reaction to society's unwillingness to allow women to function as full human beings while maintaining that they should not express anger, In feminist therapy, much self-blame and guilt are seen as totally without foundation.

7. Assisting the woman as she makes the connections between the cultural roles for women and her own distress.

8. Using techniques designed to reacquaint women with repressed aspects of themselves, such as feelings of anger and their own physical prowess.

9. Placing women into contact with other women to break down the powerlessness of isolation, break down the competition and self-hate that keep women from supporting each other, and to provide role models of women who, with similar experiences, have taken charge of their lives.

10. Modeling a change process composed of relaxing, tuning in and letting go, rather than pushing, put-downs, and harassment.

GROWTH CO-OP CAREWOMEN are available for individual counseling on a sliding-scale fee basis. Call us at the number listed below: TO REOISTEA: Call 321-8582 or write: WOMEN'S GROWTH COOP. P. 0. Box 18087, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118.

Body-Mind-Heart Awareness

Our thoughts, feelings and body responses make up who we are. We will integrate experiences with our total selves using relaxation and breathing methods, fantasy and body movement. $25. Weekend of May 7th. Lori Futterman, Wegi Louise.

Cosmicamics

Colonial Arcade 7

530 Euclid AveRUS Cleveland, Ohio 44114 805-4719

Six Steps Down

2826 Franklin

Cleveland, Ohio 44013

506-9138

Genesis 1:29

12200 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44112 421-8350

Three of Cups

12418 Buckaye

Cleveland, Ohio 44128 561-8827

Apple Tree Beeks 12419 Cedar

Cleveland Heights, O. 44108 791-2005

Leges Bookstore

1980 Ford Drive

Cleveland, Ohio 44106 229-2174

Coventry Books

1824 Coventry Read

Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118 932-0111

The Food Project

1887 Coventry Read

Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118 932-8482

Hemming-Hulburt Booksellers 24855 Chagrin Blvd. Beachweed, Ohio 44122 831-0572

Feed Communities

12408 Euclid Avenue

East Cleveland, Ohio 44185 721-3047

May, 1977/What She Wants/page 3

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