University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1996 Feminist ideological identification eministf praxis and an ethic of care within an emotional culture of a feminist organization Dan H. DeGooyer The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation DeGooyer, Dan H., "Feminist ideological identification eministf praxis and an ethic of care within an emotional culture of a feminist organization" (1996). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 5368. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/5368 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Maureen and Mike MANSFIELD LIBRARY The Universityof MO N TAN A Pennission is granted by the author to reproduce this material in its entirety, provided that this material is used for scholarly purposes and is properly cited in published works and reports. ’' * * Please check "Yes” or "No" and provide signature * * Yes, I grant pennission No, I do not grant permissioi; Author's Signature [ f j\J P Date Any copying for commercial purposes or financial gain may be undertaken only with the author's explicit consent. Feminist Ideological Identification, Feminist Praxis, and an Ethic of Care within an Emotional Culture of a Feminist Organization by Dan H. DeGooyer, Jr. B.A. University of Utah, 1991 presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts The University of Montana 1996 Approved by: Chairperson Dean, Graduate School Date UMI Number: EP40832 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. JUMT Disssrtirttoft FaMsMng UMI EP40832 Published by ProQuest LLC (2014). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code Pro ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 DeGooyer, Daniel, H., Jr. M.A., September, 1996 Communication Studies Feminist Ideological Identification, Feminist Praxis, and an Ethic of Care within an Emotional Culture of a Feminist Organization (190 pp.) Director: Betsy W. Bach The examination of organizational members' ideological identification and feminist praxes, and the emotional culture of a feminist organization was considered. Feminist ideology was found to be unrepresentative of any known feminisms (e.g. liberal, revisionist) but rather was oriented toward a folk feminist ideology that was directed at generally improving women's lives. Feminist praxis (the process of moving from feminist values into actions based on those values) at the organization occurred through choice, education, and empowerment. An ethic of care of this organization was found to have internal and external dimensions. Internally among staff, there was a lack of an ethic of care. Externally, there was an extensive ethic of care directed at clients. An ethnography of speaking was used as the methodology for this study in order to uncover the intricacies of this feminist organization. Ethnography of speaking is useful for the generation of new theory and the testing of existing theory in regard to feminist organizations and the emotional culture within these organizations. Importantly, an ethnography of speaking allows for a relationship of trust through which the details of the organization may be uncovered. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction and Rationale . 1 Value of Feminist Organizational Communication . 3 Emotional Expression in Organizations . 11 An Ethnography of Communication . 14 Chapter 2: Review of Literature . 17 Definitions of a Feminist Perspective . 17 Feminist Organizations . 30 Six Dimensions of a Feminist Organization as Descriptive Framework 34 Emotion and Organizational Communication . 43 Three Views of Emotion . 45 Organizational Emphasis on Emotional Control . 52 An Emotional Culture Beyond Control . 58 "Ethic of Care" as Descriptive Framework . 60 Philipsen's Ethnography of Speaking . 61 Chapter 3: Methodology . 66 The Speech Community ...... 67 Descriptive Theoretical Frameworks. 69 Data Collection . 70 DataCoding . 76 Data Analysis ........ 77 Reliability and Validity . 81 Triangulation ........ 89 Ethical Considerations ...... 90 Summary ........ 92 Chapter 4: Findings . 93 Feminist Ideology . 93 Feminist Praxis ....... 98 Five Dimensions of a Feminist Organization . 102 The Emotional Culture of Western Health . 122 Ethic of Care at Western Health. 134 Chapter 5: Discussion and Implications of Findings 145 Views of Feminist Organizations: Feminism in the Eye of the Beholder 147 Feminist Ideology as Representative of Folks . 150 Feminist Values as Contested . 151 The Feminist Practice of Listening . 152 Implications of Martin (1990 ) . 152 Implications of Taylor (1995 ) . 160 A Final Image: Western Health as Feminist Organization . 1 63 Suggestions for Future Research . 165 Appendix A: Summary of Martin's (1990) Ten Dimensions of a Feminist Organization . 168 Appendix B: Synopsis of Ethnographic Methods . 171 Appendix C: Organizational Chart of Western Health 174 Appendix D: Institutional Review Board Pilot Study Approval . 176 Appendix E: Schedule of Non-Participant and Participant Observations 178 Appendix F: Interview Question Guide . 183 iii Table of Tables Table 2.1 A Summary of Nine Feminisms . 26 Table 2.2 Six of Martin's (1990) Ten Dimensions of a Feminist Organization 41 Table 4.1 Feminist Ideological Identification at Western Health . 98 Table 4.2 Feminist Values at Western Health . 108 Table 4.3 Feminist Goals at Western Health . 112 Table 4.4 Feminist Outcomes at Western Health . 116 Table 4.5 Feminist Practices at Western Health . 120 Table 4.6 Client Directed Ethic of Care . 141 Table 5.1 Instances of support, rejection, and extension of Martin's (1990) Feminist Organizations Dimensions . 154 Table 5.2 Instances of Support, Rejection, and Extension of Taylor's (1995) Emotional Culture Dimensions . 162 iv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALE The door to the room is suddenly opened, Emily (a staff support person (SSP)) walks in, and a conversation begins between her and Sandy (an administrator). "Do you remember our HIV girl?" Emily asks. "Yes...." responds Sandy. "She just called, she thinks she's pregnant...." there's a brief moment of silence. "Does she know about how to protect herself?" Sandy asks Emily. "Yea, we went all over that when she was here last." "shit..." Emily asks, "I'm scheduled to leave on my vacation tomorrow, and she has an appointment in the morning.... can you be here to help her with the pregnancy test?" "Yea, I'm scheduled to be here, I'll be here..." Sandy responds. Emily is relieved, "Thanks, I'll leave all the information I have written up in your box." "Allright." Emily leaves. Later it is found out that this "HIV girl" was sexually attacked -- raped -- and that she might have HIV (the test from the lab has not been returned so they are not sure). Now the employees find out she is sexually active, may not have been using contraception, and may be pregnant. The person relating this story to me asks me if I am doing okay. I say "yea" and notice that my body is wound up, tense. My legs are crossed at the knees and feel like they somehow managed to tie themselves into a knot. A few minutes later, Emily returns. She speaks from the edge of the door, "I just wanted to come in and tell you that I will be here in the morning. I called my partner, and he said he would be willing to leave a little bit later so that I can be here for the test." 1 2 The administrator replies, "Thanks for letting me know. I'll be here if you need me." It's an average day at Western Health Clinic (WH). The clinic is full of emotion, with little free time and many interruptions. Schedules need to be ironed out, and dire and desperate events demand attention. Conversations are non-judgmental and focused around sexuality, responsibility, confidentiality, care, and openness. Clinic employees are concerned with issues such as sexual assault, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV and AIDS, contraception, pregnancy (both unplanned and planned), abortions, and sexual education. At the same time, there is a concern for the client and for other employees. This caring is even extended to the researcher. By examining aspects of this clinic's culture there may be an increase in understanding the organizing practices and underlying rationales for why WH and similar organizations exist; and how feminist ideology and praxis, and the expression of emotion are inherent factors of these organizational cultures. In this study the communication culture of an organization that offers education and services for reproductive health, family planning, and abortion in the Western United States will be discussed. Specifically, WH organizational members' manifestations of