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Applying the feminist critique to solution-focused therapy highlights the strengths and weaknesses of this model from a feminist perspective. Although solution-focused therapy and feminist approaches share an emphasis on competence and strengths, solution-focused therapy tends to overlook gender and power differences. In general, the model falls prey to what R. T. Hare-Mustin (1987) referred to as beta-prejudice.neglecting differences.
Perhaps we all should ask ourselves the miracle question: "If there were a miracle and gender issues were fully integrated into our thinking, how would we know? What would we be doing differently as a therapist? How would our clients and colleagues know?" (McConkey, 1992, p. 18).
Solution-focused therapy has been subjected to numerous evaluations (Berg, 1994; Corsiglia & Nylund, 1994; Kiser, Piercy, & Lipchik, 1993; Selekman, 1993), but there is one perspective conspicuously missing. Thus far, authors have failed to apply the feminist critique to solution-focused therapy. Solution-focused theorists and clinicians address important feminist issues such as domestic violence (Berg, 1992; Lipchik & Kubicki, 1996; O'Hanlon, 1996), work with sexual abuse survivors (Dolan, 1991; McConkey, 1992), and some gender issues (Dolan, 1991; Hudson & O' Hanlon, 1991; Selekman, 1993). However, solution-focused therapy has not been systematically addressed from a feminist perspective.
The purpose of this article is to apply a feminist perspective to solutionfocused therapy. It is organized into three parts: (1) a definition of feminism and solution-focused therapy, (2) a feminist critique of solutionfocused therapy using categories constructed by Ault-Riche (1986), and (3) a discussion of how well solution-focused therapy corresponds with feminist views.
DEFINITIONS
Feminism
The term feminism embodies a range of beliefs and assumptions. Included under the umbrella of feminism are, among others, liberal feminism, socialist feminism, and radical feminism (Avis, 1987; Luepnitz, 1988). Luepnitz (1988) simplified matters by classifying feminist thinkers as belonging to one of two schools: cultural-school feminists, who focus on the differences between sexes, and sex role feminists, who focus on sameness of the sexes. Although factions may differ regarding specific beliefs, all feminist perspectives share an appreciation of the social and cultural contexts related to being a woman and view women as competent (Avis, 1987).
Solution-Focused Therapy
As with feminism, various camps within solution-focused therapy practice in distinctive manners. To minimize confusion, we focus on de Shazer's...