An Intersectional Feminist Approach to Pakistani-American Women's Gender Roles in Therapy

Pakistani-American women exist at the intersection of multiple cultures and identities that have profound impact on their experiences. Therapy from an intersectional feminist lens can be empowering for Pakistani-American clients. Patriarchal expectations for Pakistani-American women are impacted by historical and political events as well as social and cultural values, which will be expounded upon in the manuscript. These expectations impact Pakistani-American women's presenting concerns in therapy. Counseling implications that address how patriarchal expectations may influence clinical work with this population are discussed. A case vignette that presents intersectional feminist therapy between a counselor and a Pakistani-American client is explained.

Automated summary

Pakistani-American women face the intersectional influences of multiple cultures and identities, and therapy from an intersectional feminist lens can empower them. Patriarchal expectations for these women are influenced by historical, political, social, and cultural values, which impact their therapy experiences. This manuscript discusses the counseling implications of these expectations and presents a case vignette illustrating intersectional feminist therapy between a counselor and a Pakistani-American client.