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Feminist Group Work, Consciousness-Raising and Resistance

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Gender-based Violence and Depression in Women

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Social Work ((BRIEFSSOWO))

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Abstract

In this chapter, I explore feminist group work practice. In doing so I consider two powerful concepts that are typically incorporated into feminist group work practice: consciousness-raising and resistance. I examine the role that consciousness-raising and resistance can play in guiding the development of journaling activities and in guiding the facilitation of women’s journaling groups. Why are these concepts important to women’s journaling about depression? Why are they important in women’s understandings about their experiences of violence and depression? In order to answer these questions, I present the relevant theory and literature that looks at the concepts of consciousness-raising and resistance, the ways they can be employed as methods, as activities themselves, and how they can underpin discussions with women about their rights. Consciousness-raising and resistance methods and activities fit neatly into critical feminist intersectional theories of gender-based violence against women and depression in women, particularly when we think about ways to respond to and prevent violence and depression.

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Correspondence to Deborah Western .

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Western, D. (2013). Feminist Group Work, Consciousness-Raising and Resistance. In: Gender-based Violence and Depression in Women. SpringerBriefs in Social Work. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7532-3_6

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