Enmeshment, Fusion or Relatedness? A Conceptual Analysis

Abstract

This article provides an overview and annotated reading guide to feminist issues in family therapy and related disciplines. Six different areas of feminist theorizing and research are discussed, beginning with a fairly extensive overview of the feminist critique in family therapy. This is followed by discussions of feminist theory and frameworks, the feminist critique of the family, research on sex differences, research on women and mental health, and contemporary research and theory on women’s development. For each area, the major issues emerging from the literature are summarized and a list of annotated key readings is provided.