Challenging Codependency: Feminist Critiques

by Marguerite Babcock

In the field of addiction research and counselling there has been an increasing investment in the theory of codependency - a theory that holds women partly responsible for perpetuating the alcoholism and addiction of their male partners. This is the first anthology of feminist essays that presents a cogent critique of this theory.
The unifying feature of the eighteen essays collected here is the revelation that solid evidence contradicts, rather than supports, the theory of codependency. Its assumptions are found to be unsubstantiated in theory and practice. The contributors to the volume explore the history of codependency theory and look at reasons for its growing popularity in medical-model politics. A central theme that codependency theory is essentially misogynist in nature - the result of a male backlash against feminism. The collection leaves no doubt that this backlash is effective. These essays reveal the many ways that codependency therapy promotes advice and counselling that is damaging and ultimately fails women seeking help for their distress.
This anthology, aimed at professionals as well as readers at large reveals a remarkable body of literature questioning the validity of popular addictions philosophy about women and the quality of the scholarship that supports those theories.

Genres: Feminism

240 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1995

Reviews

[Car · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful observations about the culture of addiction treatment and twelve step programmes. These essays point out a trend towards victim-blaming by naming the spouses of addicts as co-dependent, or enablers, simply for being unlucky enough to have an addicted or abusive partner. There are a lot of disturbing trends towards blaming the woman for putting up with bad behaviour, the example that got me was the bestselling book "Women who love too much" where it becomes the woman's fault, and her responsibility to change instead of naming it 'men who love to little' and putting the onus on men to behave more kindly.
The focus of these essays are largely alcoholism and al-anon. What I didn't enjoy was the fact that they are all so very similar, I didn't read them in order, and in the end I couldn't remember which ones i had already read.