Women's Anger and Feminist Therapy

Abstract

Women's anger is of crucial interest to feminist therapy for several reasons. First and most important, it exists and it is huge. Second, most people, including women who are beginning to experience their own anger, are very threatened by it. In terms of therapeutic strategy, it is important to remember that many women clients live with other people, who are likely to fear their anger, and who will work against the efforts of the therapist. For the client herself, an atmosphere of permission and safety for exploring this anger is very important. Third, anger provides a source of constructive energy which can be extremely useful to women who are trying to change themselves and/or their life situations. A depressed or apathetic client has, by the nature of her depression or apathy, very little energy available to change. An angry client who is not totally panicked by the extent of her anger can use it as a source of strength. The trap into which we therapists must not fall is that of believing our work is completed once we have helped our clients realize the depth of their anger. We also have an obligation to provide help in working through the rage and gaining control of some of the factors that feed it. As a long-term state, rage is difficult to live with and unpleasant to feel. It is also often counterproductive; that is, it produces effects opposite to those desired.