Routledge Gender and Difference in the Arts Therapies: Inscribed on the Body

Gender and Difference in the Arts Therapies: Inscribed on the Body offers worldwide perspectives on gender in arts therapies practice and provides understandings of gender and arts therapies in a variety of global contexts. Bringing together leading researchers and lesser-known voices, it contains an eclectic mix of viewpoints, and includes detailed case studies of arts therapies practice in an array of social settings and with different populations. In addition to themes of gender identification, body politics and gender fluidity, this title discusses gender and arts therapies across the life-course, encompassing in its scope, art, music, dance and dramatic play therapy. Gender and Difference in the Arts Therapies demonstrates clinical applications of the arts therapies in relation to gender, along with ideas about best practice. It will be of great interest to academics and practitioners in the field of arts therapies globally. Review "Exploring and explaining the role of arts therapists in dismantling assumptions based in biological determinism and psychoanalytic theory makes for fascinating reading in this text. Authors of diverse backgrounds carefully consider how and why they see individuals as active agents who engage with creative methods in order to reconceive themselves during times of distress and pain. This text draws on critical theory to demonstrate how the arts can provide conditions in which we are able to thrive as the unique individuals that we are by transcending the systems of domination and oppression that might otherwise shape our lives." - Professor Katrina McFerran, The University of Melbourne, Australia "A short endorsement cannot do justice to this very important book. The theme of ‘Gender and Difference in the Arts Therapies’ allows the authors to dig deep into the soil and landscape of the arts therapies. Much of it has not been excavated before, and there are rich gems to be found. There are crucial discoveries, such as that body-movement can create changes in the brain, art therapy can include crafts and making of objects, and costume and dramatic play can support a transgender teenager discover his role in life. The editor obviously has skills in choosing and balancing the chapters which include the highly academic as well as the practice-based. This remarkable book should be required reading for teachers, clinicians, therapists and all the rest." - Professor Sue Jennings, PhD, visiting Professor of Dramatherapy at University of Derby, UK, Professor of Play (EFD) and specialist in Neuro-Dramaric-Play. "This important book provides a wide variety of perspectives that explore gender as a multifaceted social construct that is affected by sex, class, and cultural mores. It provides theoretical and research perspectives along with case studies that illustrate the use of a broad range of creative arts and arts interventions from those theoretical perspectives to support exploration and challenge of these constructs and perspectives via image and metaphor." - Christianne Strang, PhD ATR-BC, President of the American Art Therapy Association. "‘Inscribed on the Body’ addresses the complex relationships between gender and the arts therapies in ways that are illuminating and challenging. Historic positive developments in attitude and resistances to change are examined through lucid debate in ways that create insight into life inside and outside the therapy room. Rich and varied clinical material provides access to practice covering a range of international contexts, presented and interrogated with verve and critical energy. Concepts such as gender, sexual identity, sexual orientation and intersectionality are brought alive in ways that avoid generalisation and take the reader into very particular contexts to reveal how they are present in visible and invisible ways within arts therapy practice. Essential in understanding arts therapy work with all clients, and in developing t