The Listening Partners program: an initiative toward feminist community psychology in action.
The Listening Partners intervention is described and analyzed as a synthesis of feminism and community psychology, within a developmental framework. Working from an empowerment perspective, this social action, peer group intervention supported a community of poor, rural, isolated, young, White mothers to gain a greater voice, claim the powers of their minds, and collaborate in developmental leadership--creating settings that promote their own development and that of their families, peers, and communities. High quality dialogue, individual and group narrative, and collaborative problem-solving were emphasized, in a feminist context affirming diversity, inclusiveness, strengths, social-contextual analyses, and social constructivist perspectives. The power of enacting a synergy of feminism and community psychology is highlighted.
Bond
L A
LA
Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington 05405-0134, USA.
Belenky
M F
MF
Weinstock
J S
JS
D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D005260:Female; D019513:Feminism; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011340:Problem Solving; D011584:Psychology; D012944:Social Support