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Divinity and femininity issues in counseling.

Article Excerpt
Abstract

A survey of 80 Christian women, on the effects of patriarchal Christianity on female role stereotypes, was conducted as part of a Spirituality in Counseling class. Results of that survey and the journal entries of Christian women indicated that, even though some women's attitudes and beliefs are not reflected in the traditional patriarchal church structure, language, and images, many women are experiencing difficulty imaging God as anything other than masculine. Effective cross-cultural counseling involves understanding an individual's worldview. Worldview is shaped by a number of interconnected parts including individual beliefs, which are often based on religious tenets and built around religious practice, including language and divine imagery. Understanding how religious culture influences self-image can be a powerful and necessary tool in effective cross-cultural counseling.

The need to be an effective cross-cultural counselor grows exponentially every year. Harper and McFadden (2003, p. XV) state:

... increased prevalence [of culture-centered counseling] has been driven mainly by the requirements of (1) counselor training accreditation groups, (2) counselor certification boards, and (3) a multicultural counseling competence movement as presently reflected in standards of professional associations.

Increasing cultural consideration requires diligence on the part of those who desire to practice counseling competently and ethically. Even for those clients who are the "same" as their counselor culturally, understanding an individual's worldview will help the professional enlist the most functional treatments on a case-by-case basis.

Worldview is shaped by a number of interconnected parts including individual beliefs, experiences, and personality. The origins of most cultures are based on religious tenets and are built around religious practice including language, divine imagery, church government, and ceremonial expression (Stone, 1978). According to Harper and McFadden (2003, p. 188), "current recommendations for multicultural counseling competencies ask counselors to be able to understand the concept of 'worldview' of the client, and, in many instances, this worldview may include qualities of spirituality, religion, and the transpersonal." Understanding how culture and spirituality influence the client can be a powerful and necessary tool in the counseling process.

Most of the major religions practiced today are patriarchal and favor the male gender over the female gender (Stone, 1978). A male-identified deity that is directly imaged by men through Jesus is typically at the core of Christian experience. Many women are struggling to find spiritual support in the patriarchal models of Christianity. As society progresses and changes, these models are less relevant to roles and needs of some women. Some women are beginning to look beyond the male-oriented past to a more feminine understanding of God. Other women experience difficulty imaging their God, as anything other than masculine, even though their needs are not being met in the traditional patriarchal church structure, language, and images (see The...

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