“There Is No Such Thing as Neutrality”: An Interview with Dr. Carmen Knudson-Martin, Ph.D. on Feminism in Academia/Clinical Practice

Abstract

ABSTRACT Dr. Knudson-Martin is a prolific researcher, educator, presenter, editor, and clinician in feminist family therapy, currently serving as Professor Emerita at Lewis & Clark College. Her work includes over 100 publications (books, book chapters, and refereed articles) and over 120 professional presentations (invited and refereed). Accolades include recognition as one of the most influential papers published in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy (1975–2011), the Anselm Strauss Award (with Dana Matta) for Best Family Qualitative Research (2007), and the Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice Award from American Family Therapy Academy (2017). Along with Douglas Huenergardt and a clinical research team, Dr. Knudson-Martin, founded Socio-Emotional Relationship Therapy (SERT), which focuses on the intersection of emotion, power, and sociocultural contexts in the micro-processes of couple interactions. This interview focused candidly on how Dr. Knudson-Martin’s understanding of feminism changed over the years, her views on barriers faced by feminist researchers, and the strong influence collaborative relationships in academia have had on her career. Contextualizing her evolved understanding of feminism, Dr. Knudson-Martin reflected on her past research that divided the concept of gender into three elements (power, culture, and process) and how her own privilege initially restricted her understanding of feminism. Finally, Dr. Knudson-Martin highlighted the importance of working across disciplines to broaden perspectives, bridge theoretical divides, and begin with an intersectional lens rather than secondary consideration of identity as “an add-on.”