Combining Feminist Relational Advocacy with Reflective Practice

Summary of the Feminist Relational Advocacy Model by Lisa A. Goodman et.al.


The following is a summary of the paper Feminist Relational Advocacy: Processes and Outcomes from the Perspective of Low-Income Women with Depression by Lisa Goodman, Catherine Glenn and Angela M. Borges of Boston College, Amanda Bohlig of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Victory Banyard of the University of New Hampshire. It will be followed by a brief discussion on how this model can be combined with reflective practice (see blog post of March 15, 2010) to increase advocacy effectiveness.

In the article, Goodman et.al., refer to the woman to whom advocacy is provided as the “partner”. This eliminates any perceived power or control in the advocacy relationship.

Principals of Feminist Relational Advocacy –

1. Valuing the woman’s narrative – By developing a relationship through which the advocate can come to understand and respect the woman’s perspective and the reasons underlying her choices an advocate will be able to recognize the partner’s authority to know and name what she needs, and highlight her strength and autonomy without ignoring the multiple factors that limit her range of choices. This may mean a radical approach on the part of the advocate if the woman is in a position of needing non-traditional assistance. As Goodman et. al. state, “if a woman cannot get out from under her ten bags of laundry, then the most valuable thing an advocate may do is help her devise a better system for doing laundry, or even do her laundry with her.”

2. Honoring mutuality and the development of a genuine relationship – Until it is acknowledged that any actions taken by the advocate or the survivor must occur within the context of a trusting and committed relationship many survivors will not share their real needs. Components of a genuine, healing relationship include authenticity, shared power, mutuality, and openness.

3. Emotional and instrumental support are intertwined and inseparable - Just as individuals with greater levels of emotional wellbeing feel more energized to work towards changes in their external conditions, greater access to resources may well increase individuals’ emotional wellbeing.

4. Attention to external forms of oppression as sources of distress – Instead of imposing diagnostic labels on women’s emotional distress, feminist relational advocates, work to understand its roots in social conditions. The model expresses an understanding that poor women’s distress as a reasonable response to unreasonable situations, or even as an expression of resistance to institutional oppression. “Does the woman take the job that will enable her to leave the welfare rolls, but require that her young children be unsupervised? Does she leave the abusive boyfriend and give up the only secure housing situation she has ever known?”

Combining Feminist Relational Advocacy and Reflective Practice to Transform Advocate/Client Relationships

What is reflective practice? - Reflective practice is a way of being that values and enacts ongoing personal awareness of the advocate’s contribution to the tenor and quality of the interpersonal encounter, while also holding in mind the multiple contributions of the other. This includes the ability to use non-judgmental awareness and to reflect on one’s own and other’s mental states, looking inward while looking outward, and is focused on the autonomic and emotional reactions of the self and other. (Michael Morgan PhD)

What do we know about the person with whom we are engaging? This helps to understand their personal narrative and contributes to informed advocacy. The following list factors that influence the advocates relationship and may open doors to understanding responses that the partner may have when responding within the advocate/partner relationship.

Age
Gender
Race
Cultural Background
History
Trauma History
Children? Relationship with?
Living Situation
Supports and Connections/Relationship Patterns
Education
Cognitive issues? (Traumatic brain injury, developmental disabilities or trauma related cognitive isses)
Medical issues?
Coping skills
How does the above influence the person’s ability to cope?
How does what we know influence our perceptions?
What does she say she needs? How does she ask? Does she ask for specific help or does she use other ways to express her needs?
What can the advocate provide for the survivor? How can this be provided?
What can the advocate do to help make changes to the system in order to help the survivor?
How can the advocate maintain safety and respect in the relationship?
How can the advocate care for her/himself in order to be able to maintain safety and respect?

By exploring the answers to these questions and viewing through the Feminist Relational Advocacy Model you can build the advocate/partner relationship, understand the effects of trauma, and be able to address issues that are blocking the process of advocacy and healing within that relationship. 
The above issues are best reflected upon in a group setting with people who may also have contact with the partner. This provides a wider view of the person and what she brings to the advocate/partner relationship.