The gender-ambivalent group and the gender-blinded analyst

Abstract

Group therapists must pay careful attention to gender-related issues appearing in groups. While this may appear obvious, in practice there is often a reluctance to do so. This is in part owing to the fact that exploring gender-related differences may threaten group harmony. The present article shows first how this ambivalence is reflected historically in the group therapy literature. It then brings case examples of group sessions which demonstrate such ambivalence. Reasons for the ambivalence are offered in the discussion section. It is suggested that while open exploration of gender tension may lead to acrimony or embarrassment, ultimately the group learns it can contain these feelings, survive and in fact achieve a more solid and lasting cohesion.