“in phenomenology, the study of the experience of the subjects is never finished, objective, or absolute”  

Gender

Since the Victorian era, there have been some dramatic changes in fathering, mothering, gender identities and gender roles; there has also been a sense of continuity.  The influences of economics, feminism and the sexual revolution have played significant roles in redefining and developing gender in the West. Exploring how these changes play out both in-and-out of the therapy room is of interest.  

gender-equitist

My definition of being gender-equitist is an active commitment to fairness of treatment to individuals and groups regardless of their gender, according to their respective needs. This may include equal treatment or treatment that is different, but which is considered equivalent in terms of rights, benefits, obligations and opportunities (thus the use of the term ‘equity’ as opposed to ‘equality’ here is important. More>

men

Men are under-represented in the therapy room compared to their prevalence in society. Research that explores this phenomenon is of interest, irrespective of the sexuality or age of participant pool.

acceptatio Fati

To be complicit in one’s containment in a world that delimits homo sapiens to crude, accepted markers based on predominantly visual or hidden physical identifiers, based on historic propaganda or tropes that attempt to advantage, give power or assign privilege to the other. To silently accept denial of experience and the disallowance of any opportunity to be seen, heard or felt as other. To be as per label, accepting judgement due to lack of effective known remedy or challenge that does not in turn give ammunition to the trope. To accept life as it is, to be accepting of the vision of the crowd, to act as though one has no choice. To know without exploration and to accept life as it is told. For the unconsidered to equal truth. More>

sexuality

For many, gender and sexuality are intertwined. However, in my research into straight men in couples therapy, no such intertwine was reported by the participants.

misandristic

Misandristic is my proposed adjectival form of misandry, analogous to misogynistic as the adjectival form of misogyny. While ‘misogynistic’ is included in the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster , ‘misandristic’, or any formal adjectival form of misandry, is not offered. This can be explained by both dictionaries adding words based on how language is used, potentially meaning the concept of ingrained prejudice against, or contempt for men, is either not recognised as having currency or instances of when such language or behaviours occur are not recognised as demonstrating misandry. It is also important to note that the Oxford Dictionary does not use the term ‘hatred’ to define misogyny, using instead the lesser criteria above.More>