Sexual stereotyping and role transition in the family

Alberts, Anne-Louise

Sexual stereotyping and role transition in the family

Master Thesis

1988

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Social Development

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

The family in Western society is increasingly perceived as threatened by a myriad of socio-cultural changes, and statistics suggest that family breakdown is cause for major concern to clinical practitioners working with families. This study attempts to examine the issue of female role transition within the family with a view to understanding the dynamics of conflict and breakdown which are generated by departure from the female role stereotype. A cross-disciplinary review of the literature has sought to place the discussion of case-study material within a broad psycho-social context. The emphasis throughout is on the interplay between the complex macro variables and the intra-psychic functioning of individual clients. Five case histories are used to identify the etiological and diagnostic features which interact within the family as a sub-system. Concluding discussion offers a psychodynamic interpretation of the case material.