Gendering of care and care inequalities in couple therapy

Reciprocal partner or spousal caregiving in romantic relationships has been identified as a key determinant of the quality of couple relationships. In this article, we interrogate this premise concerning the presumed reciprocity of caregiving in romantic relationships, focusing on cisgender heterosexual relationships and offering implications for relationships of all genders and sexualities. Looking beyond the conventional focus on individual or dyadic processes, we theorize imbalances in care as gendered. Feminists have repeatedly critiqued gender ideology that devalues caring labor and allocates it to women. Gendered power dynamics can lead to imbalances in care-seeking and care provision. We discuss how the gendering of care and care inequalities can manifest in couple therapy, illustrating with examples from recorded interactions. Implications for therapy practice are discussed.爱情关系中伴侣或配偶相互给予关照的行为做法被认为是对伴侣关系质量起到关键决定作用的。在本研究中，笔者对爱情关系中双方都要给予互相彼此关照这一前提进行了质疑，重点关注的是双性恋的异性关系，并为所有性别和性取向的关系提供一些启示。研究超越了传统上的对个人或双方过程的关注，把两方给予照顾行为的不平衡性归结为性别化这个理论。照顾他人的行为被看低，并分配给女性承担为主，这种性别意识形态一再得到女权主义者的批判。性别化的权力动态会导致寻求一方的关照和提供另一方的关照方面的不平衡。本文讨论了在伴侣治疗中表现出来的关照行为的性别化和关照行为的不平等性，并从录音记录的互动实例中举证说明。本文还讨论了对治疗实践的启示意义。.