SWP 301 Chapter 9: Week 9 reading

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Social Work
• Course: SWP 301
• Professor: Shane Young

Document Summary

Challenge assumption that gender is natural & mechanical expression of biological sex. 2 broad models of service provision: pathology approach, affirmative approach. Gender non-conformity is regarded as mental illness in need of correction. Clinicians provided treatment designed to bring children"s gender identity in line with social norms. Diagnosed with gender identity disorder in children (gidc) Possible reasons for gidc was due to parental deficit (parent"s faults: boys who were feminine= overly close relationship with mother (overbearing mothers, and poor gender role-modelling by passive fathers. Early clinical interventions with parents to interrupt parental approvals of non-conformity: encourage parental commitment to corrective treatment, encourage gender-normative activities, discourage non-conformity expression. Gender non-conformity is regarded as unproblematic aspect of human diversity in need of affirmation. In supporting their children"s otherness, some parent become other themselves. Foucault= knowledge creates and is created by power. How discourse determines what is thinkable & sayable. Delimits what it is possible to be.