Codependency : a review of the feminist critique and other voices

Abstract

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This review begins by tracing the history and initial formulations of codependency, followed by the presentation of ten main themes distilled from the feminist critique of codependency: disparate and problematic definitions of codependency; viewing codependency as a disease; the use of codependency as a label; codependency as blaming the victim; codependency as a plot against women; codependency has an attack on femininity and traditional female roles; issues of individualism, narcissism and interdependence; lack of research in the field; over simplification of complex realities; and codependency as big business. These themes are presented along with recent developments and other perspectives in the field. The review concludes with a number of alternative formulations of codependency, as well as a recommendation of a number of criteria against which to evaluate future conceptualisations of the concept.

AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie werkstuk begin met h uiteensetting van die geskiedenis en vroeë formuleringe van mede-afhanklikheid, gevolg deur h voorlegging van tien hoof temas gedistilleer uit die feministiese kritiek van mede-afhanklikheid: disparate en problematiese omskrywings van mede-afhanklikheid; die bedinking van mede-afhanklikheid as h siekte; die gebruik van mede-afhanklikheid as h etiket; die gebruik van mede-afhanklikheid om slagoffers te blameer; die gebruik van mede-afhanklikheid om vroue te onderdruk; die gebruik van mede-afhanklikheid teen vroulikheid en die tradisionele vroue-rol; narsisme en interafhanklikheid; gebrek aan navorsing; oor-vereenvoudiging van komplekse realiteit; en mede-afhanklikheid en groot besigheid. Hierdie temas word uiteengesit tesame met huidige ontwikkelinge en ander perspektiewe in hierdie gebied. Hierdie werkstuk word afgesluit met met h aantal alternatiewe formuleringe van mede-afhanklikheid, sowel as aanbeveelings van kriteria wat in die toekoms as h maatstaf gebruik kan word om nuwe konseptualiserings te evalueer.