Cheryl L. Storm

A genderist Philosophy Transforms an mft Program

Abstract COAMFTE has required the inclusion of content on gender since 1988. This article describes how one MFT-accredited masters program has been transformed as the result of a conscious decision to examine and modify the entire educational process. As a foundation for the transformation, faculty chose a “genderist” philosophy as the most effective approach. Beginning with a recognition of gender as being basic to all human experience and interaction, faculty created an educational context in which there is a continual consideration of gender through mainstreaming of gender learning objectives, an emphasis on interactive pedagogy, and a structure that engages faculty and students in conversation with one another about the influence of gender.