Psychologists, as well as the general public, have recognized the importance of female friendships. Scientists call this bond the tending instinct- a kind of female relaxation response that has salutary effects. Such special attachment shields women from isolation and provides an enhanced sense of wellbeing. Intimate friends can therefore act as sisters of the heart to promote connection, solace, wholeness, and longevity. Moreover, women friends frequently provide emotional, social, physical, and spiritual benefits. Indeed, sisters of the heart constitute an unparalleled bond that encourages women to connect with themselves, with others, and with the world at large. In this book, twelve women therapists, who are diverse in age-- young, middle, and older women; as well as in ethnicity--White, African American, Latina, Asian American, Native American, and multiracial women---examine the psychological and physical aspects of this unique female bonding. Through their narratives we hear their distinctive voices as women and as healers. In this fashion, they reflect on both the functional and dysfunctional dynamics occurring between intimate female friends. Finally, these women therapists examine how their experience with a sister of the heart informed their development as healers, and discuss how they use this special bond in psychotherapy with women. This book was originally published as a special issue of Women & Therapy. 'This enlightening, iconic book is for anyone who wants to understand more about the powerful roles of friendships—including challenges--among women that facilitate their ability to survive and thrive. It is special in that the chapter authors are psychotherapists who describe the impact of female bonding, from scientific as well as personal bases. The descriptions are rooted in theory, research, extensive clinical experience and personal lives. Refreshing and much needed, this book will prove useful to professionals as well as any women or men who want to understand the value and salience of female relationships.' Melba Vasquez, PhD, ABPP Past President, American Psychological Association Independent Practice, Austin, Texas

This collection of essays considers the role of spirituality and religion in the lives of American women from various ethnic backgrounds, showing how faith empowers those in populations often marginalized in the United States. Religion and spirituality are sources of strength and resilience for many women, particularly ethnically diverse women. This thought-provoking text examines this psychological trend, exploring the specific ways in which women from diverse backgrounds have benefited from their faith traditions, the various spiritual pathways they have chosen, and the impact of those choices on their lives. Essays in this informative compilation show how women from African American, Latina, American Indian, Asian American, and Caucasian backgrounds recover from difficulties and traumas with the help of their faith. Contributors consider why women are more likely to endorse religious engagement than men; why ethnically marginalized women tap into spirituality for comfort more than any other population; and why many believers embrace religion as a coping mechanism throughout their lives—from adolescence to older adulthood. The work suggests ways for counselors, leaders, and religious figures to utilize this knowledge to bolster the well-being of those they serve.

Courses in psychological distress and disorders are among the most popular courses in psychology programs, and mood and anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent disorders covered in these classes and encountered by mental health professionals. Although there are books on mood and anxiety disorders, on particular aspects of them, and on their presentation in specific populations, such works do not provide students new to the field with a comprehensive and accessible ready reference for understanding these disorders with respect to their phenomenology, etiology, and treatment, and through an inclusive lens that consistently considers how these symptoms appear and are construed across cultures, addressing societal factors such as race, culture, equity, and oppression. It is hoped that The SAGE Encyclopedia of Mood and Anxiety Disorders will fill this gap, allowing students and other interested readers to become familiar with past and current approaches and theories and to enhance their understanding of the sociocultural factors that affect how we discuss, approach, and treat these types of psychological distress. As such, consideration of sociocultural factors will infuse the three-volume set. The encyclopedia will consist of approximately 450 entries (essays), arranged alphabetically within three volumes.

Original and thought-provoking, this Research Agenda investigates the many ways in which tourism is gendered. It outlines current thought and directions for future research, looking forward by imagining and challenging the ways that gender will continue to intersect with and impact on tourism, as well as looking back to trace the key developments and contributions in gendered thinking.

This comprehensive, four-volume work presents practical, up-to-date recommendations in areas impacting all job applicants and employees, including work/life balance, diversity management, performance, recruitment, training programs, and employee conflict. This four-volume set uniquely integrates legislation, management theories, and social science research to cover a variety of human resource management topics, such as leadership and managerial styles, generational conflict in the workplace, techniques for evaluating employee performance, and workplace violence. In addition, best practices for policies, investigation procedures, and implementing training programs are covered—all information that can result in dramatic improvements in the workplace environment and business success. Every recommendation in this set is reflective of—as well as responsive to— the needs of employees. The overall objective of the work is to provide readers with effective management strategies to work strategically, ethically, honestly, and effectively with people. Additionally, the contents emphasize the importance of gaining an understanding of the strategic influences on managing people—for example, documenting the connections between business and psychological strategies like effective listening.

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) feminist visionaries have contributed to a paradigm shift in feminist theory and practice by espousing an intersectional and inclusive conceptualization of liberation. This book honors the journeys and contributions of seven feminist visionaries, who share some of their most formative experiences and challenges that fomented a desire for equity, justice, and collective wellbeing. The transformations to feminism, psychology, psychotherapy, and other areas following their immeasurable contributions are vast and have produced enduring changes. The chapters in this volume also offer their reflections and wisdom about what remains unfinished in service to building an equitable and just society. These deep and critical reflections serve as an excellent resource for anyone seeking to increase their awareness of equity and justice in psychology. Readers will also have a view into how it is that lived experiences inform intellectual and professional pursuits, and vice versa. This book will serve as an exceptional accompaniment to any course aiming to expose students to these indispensable perspectives which are at once personal and, undoubtedly, professional. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Women & Therapy.

Rich, original, and transformative, the latest edition of A New Psychology of Women examines how gender-related expectations interact with other cultural assumptions and stereotypes, and with social and economic conditions, to affect women’s experiences and behavior. Absorbing narratives centered on essential topics in psychology and global research engage readers to grasp cutting-edge insights into the psychological diversity of women. Aware that our own cultural experience colors and limits what we think we know about people, veteran educator and scholar Hilary Lips imbues her discussions with international examples and perspectives to provide an inclusive approach to the psychology of women. A wide range of new and extensively updated topics optimize readers’ knowledge of how disparate perspectives from cultures throughout the world shape women’s behavior and attitudes toward: health care / violence against women / poverty / labor force participation / occupational segregation / unpaid work / stereotyping and discrimination / expectations about power within marriage / female genital mutilation / theories of gender development / women’s attitudes toward their bodies / use of social media / media portrayals of girls and women / women in political leadership roles Among thoroughly updated topics particular to US culture are same-sex marriage, Latina women’s issues, the portrayal of women of different ethnic and cultural groups on television, and breast cancer survival rates of African American and European American women. Boxed items containing learning activities, profiles of women who helped shape psychology, and suggestions for making social changes appear throughout the text. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions, key terms, suggestions for additional reading, and Web resources.

A meditation book for women seeking to raise to their self-esteem & connect more fully with themselves.

Answers the need for help among the five million American women who suffer from eating disorders. "An inspired psychoanalytic meditation on contemporary female identity and eating disorders."--Phyllis Chesler

Men, jobs, children, personal crises, irreconcilable social gaps—these are just a few of the strange and confusing reasons which may cause a female friendship to end. No matter the cause, the breakup of a female friendship leaves a woman devastated and asking herself difficult questions. Was someone to blame? Is the friendship worth fighting for? How can I prevent this from ever happening again? Even more upsetting is that women suffering from broken friendships often have no one to confide in; while the loss of a romantic partner garners sympathy among peers, discussing the loss of a platonic friend is often impossible without making other friends jealous or uncomfortable. Written by journalist and psychologist Irene Levine, Ph.D., Best Friends Forever is an uplifting and heroically honest book for abandoned friends seeking solace. Dr. Levine draws from the personal testimonials of thousands of women to provide anecdotes and groundbreaking solutions to these complicated situations. Offering tools for personal assessment, case stories, and actionable advice for saving, ending, or re-evaluating a relationship, Levine shows that breakups are sometimes inevitable. Although the dissolution of female friendships can be difficult, Best Friends Forever teaches women to stop blaming themselves and probing the wounds, and that the sad experience of a broken friendship can make them stronger people, and more able to handle their relationships with wisdom.