Influence of Gender in Family Evaluations: A Comparison of Trained and Untrained Observer Perceptions of Matriarchal and Patriarchal Family Interviews.

This research examined how training and experience, family roles, and gender of observed family leadership affect ratings of both family and individual parent functioning, Seventy experienced therapists and 70 clinically naive individuals rated 2 videotaped family interviews. One interview demonstrated a matriarchal style of family interaction and the other demonstrated a patriarchal style. Ratings from the 2 groups of observers were compared to determine the effects of training and experience. The effects of leader gender were determined by comparing ratings of the 2 family interviews. Ratings of the mother and the father from the 2 interviews were compared to determine the effects of family roles. Results suggest that experienced observers in assessments of family functioning are vulnerable to biased views of mother-led families. In assessments of parent functioning, results suggest that although training and experience may promote more critical ratings, vulnerability to biased views of women as family leaders is not significantly affected. These findings underscore the importance of both therapists and researchers examining the role of gender in family therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]