What primary focus does the feminist perspective bring to MFT?

The feminist perspective in Marriage and Family Therapy places a significant emphasis on understanding and addressing power dynamics and societal norms that influence relationships. This approach highlights how gender roles and cultural expectations can create imbalances in partnerships, leading to issues such as oppression, inequality, and conflict. By focusing on these power dynamics, the feminist perspective seeks to empower individuals, particularly women, and promote healthier, more equitable relationships.

This perspective encourages therapists to consider the larger social context in which families operate, including how societal structures impact personal relationships. By addressing these systemic issues, the feminist perspective aims to help clients understand the influence of external societal forces on their relationships and to foster change that promotes equality and empowerment.

The other options do not align as closely with the primary focus of the feminist perspective in MFT. While economic equality is important, it is just one aspect of the broader analysis of power dynamics. Strict adherence to traditional gender roles contradicts the feminist aim of challenging these roles, and while individual psychological growth is a valuable outcome in therapy, it is not the primary focus when viewed through a feminist lens.