2001 10-1 Counselors’ gender bias in conceptualizing marital problems

Li-An Kuo

National Changhua University of Education

 

The purpose of this study was to explore counselors’ gender bias in conceptualizing marital problems. The participants included 29 experienced and 29 novice counselors. 58 participants were asked to view the first 20 minutes of interview conductedby the researcher, and their responses on free-response dependent measure were examined for possible gender bias. Through content analysis, there were seven categories emerging regarding the theme of gender bias: neutrality, for wife, for husband, against wife, against husband, gender concepts, and social-culture concepts.
The main findings were that both experienced and novice counselors tended to be neutral to the couple. However, there was a lack of usage of social-culture and gender concepts. This was particularly true ofthe novice counselors.
The correlation analysis showed that counselors' working experience was positively correlated with gender concepts, social-culture concepts, and neutrality. Gender concepts, social-culture concepts were negatively correlated with against husband. Married counselors were more neutral than unmarried counselors. Unmarried counselors were more likely to be for wife, against wife, and for husband than married counselors. There were no differences regarding the frequency of seven categories used by male and female counselors.
The results of qualitative analysis of participant critiques revealed subtle forms ofgender bias. Implications for clinical training, curriculum development, and future research were discussed.

Keywords
counselor, couple therapy, conceptualization, gender bias

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