Feminist Perspectives on Social Work and Human Sexuality

First published in 1985, this ground-breaking volume contributes to a largely neglected area of social work research, theory and practice. The collection of essays by internationally known social work educators and practitioners applies feminist perspectives to a wide range of issues influencing the social work profession and social work practice. In doing so, it demonstrates that a liberal feminist position is consistent with social work practice. Nearly all the chapters focus on direct practice issues, such as problems faced by women who have been sexually assaulted, the lack of adequate health care provided to lesbians from traditional health care systems, and sexist bias in sex therapy and family therapy models. This book will be of interest to students and practitioners of social work.

Mary Valentich, James Gripton

About the Editors; Contributors; Foreword David Shore; Introduction Mary Valentich and James Gripton; On the Diversity of Love Object Orientations Among Women Sophie Freud Loewenstein; Common Therapeutic Targets Among Women Who Were Sexually Abused in Childhood Derek Jehu, Marjorie Gazan and Carole Klassen; A New Look at Mothers of Incest Victims Margaret H. Myer; Social Work, Traditional Health Care Systems and Lesbian Invisibility Sandee Porter; Feminist Issues in Sex Therapy Lee C. Handy, Mary Valentich, Lorna P. Cammaert and James Gripton; The Sexual Component in Family Therapy: A Feminist Critique Laurie MacKinnon and Dusty Miller; Human Sexuality and Feminism: A New Approach to Perinatal Social Work Nancy B. Bryant and Charlotte J. Collins; Women's Responses to Abortion: Implications for Post-Abortion Support Groups Karen M. Lodl, Ann McGettigan and Janette Bucy